
This Eurasian species is nearly identical to Wilson's Snipe, and until recently was considered the same species. The two differ only in the pattern on the underside of the wing and by the number of tail feathers. Common Snipe shows extensive white on the underwing coverts and axillaries. These areas are uniformly barred gray on Wilson's. Common has white squared tips on the secondaries, creating a trailing edge on the inner wing. Wilson's has very thin white fringes to the secondaries. When the tail is spread, as during display flight, Common shows one wide outer tail feather separated from the rest of the tail. Wilson's shows two equally narrow outer feathers separated from the rest of the tail. The bill is long and straight, paler at the base. Upperparts are mottled dark brown and chestnut, with two sets of buffy stripes running down the back and with heavily barred tertials. The head shows a series of pale and dark stripes, beginning with a pale central crown stripe. Note the rusty orange coloring near the end of the tail. The underparts are white, with extensive streaking across the breast and dark barring down the sides and flanks.
Length: 27 (cm) Wingspan: 39 (cm)
Voice:
Call is a repeated scape, or a two-syllable ski-ape. Winnowing sound of displaying male is lower in pitch than that of Wilson's Snipe.
Habitat:
Shallow marshes.
Behavior:
Elaborate courtship flights at dusk produce "winnowing" sound.
Feeding:
Deeply probes mud with long bill.
Field Notes
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
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Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
01/18/14 | Loretta Mogan | # |
10/23/12 | Steve Dimock, OR | 3 |
10/22/12 | Steve Dimock, OR | 4 |
10/20/12 | Steve Dimock, OR | 3 |
10/19/12 | Steve Dimock, OR | 4 |
12/22/11 | Jacob Parks, OR | # |
01/29/10 | Dan Mitchell, OR | 1 |
05/29/03 | robbie wheeling | 1 |
10/29/07 | robbie wheeling | 1 |
04/15/03 | robbie wheeling | 1 |
05/30/03 | robbie wheeling | 1 |
05/30/03 | robbie wheeling | 0 |
09/27/03 | Dave Irons, OR | 6 |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Dan Mitchell added Common Snipe to their Gilbert, Arizona smart list | 9/25/2011 at 12:01PM |