Gallinago media
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Mass
~170 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The great snipe is a compact, stocky wader with a short bill and a subdued brown look. In wet grass it blends in easily, and in flight the pale wingbars are the easiest thing to notice.
It stays quiet and wary. In spring it has an elaborate courtship display, and when flushed it usually flies off for a long way without settling nearby.
It breeds in marshes, wet meadows, and low-lying river areas. It feeds in soft mud on insects, worms, and sometimes plant material, and leaves for Africa south of the Sahara in winter.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The great snipe is a compact, stocky wader with a short bill and a subdued brown look. In wet grass it blends in easily, and in flight the pale wingbars are the easiest thing to notice.
It stays quiet and wary. In spring it has an elaborate courtship display, and when flushed it usually flies off for a long way without settling nearby.
It breeds in marshes, wet meadows, and low-lying river areas. It feeds in soft mud on insects, worms, and sometimes plant material, and leaves for Africa south of the Sahara in winter.
