All species
resident
Amber-listedSandpipers, snipes and phalaropes
Common Snipe
A cryptically patterned wader with a long, straight bill and an extraordinary 'drumming' display flight in spring. Snipes are shy and flush with a zig-zagging escape.
Gallinago gallinago
Wetlands Marshes Bogs Meadows
Size
25-27 cm
Wingspan
39-45 cm
Weight
80-120 g
Lifespan
5-10 years
Diet
Worms, insects, larvae and small crustaceans, probed from mud with its long bill.
Song & Call
A harsh 'scaap' call; males produce a haunting 'drumming' sound in display.
How to identify
- Long straight bill
- Striped and mottled brown plumage
- Pale stripes on back
- Short legs
Conservation
Amber-listed
Amber-listed; dependent on wet grassland and boggy habitats.
