Common Snipe

Widespread migrant and non-breeding visitor.

Cryptically patterned, long-billed snipe with prominent white trailing wing edge in flight. Typically longer-billed and longer-tailed than other locally-occurring species, and typically shows more sloping forehead. In all plumages, more richly coloured than other snipes; dark loral stripe broader than supercilium at bill base, and head pattern, including ear covert stripe, is well-marked. Outer tail feathers almost as broad as centrals. In flight, wings are sharply pointed, flight feathers are dark brown, and secondaries have obvious white tips. From below, underwing coverts and axillaries are typically whiter and less barred than other species, although there is considerable variation in this feature, with some showing strong barring. White belly patch large and well-defined. Ad: (year round) Lower scapulars typically blackish centred, though variable, with creamy edge to outer web broader and more extensive than on inner edge; median wing coverts broadly tipped cream, with dividing dark shaft streak, forming several lines of twinned pale oval spots. 1cy: (Aug – Dec) Can be distinguished from adults by pattern of median coverts, which have broad continuous buff fringe and darker subterminal line, and more finely barred tertials.

Pin-tailed Snipe and Swinhoe’s Snipe are very similar. In flight, both have broader, more rounded wings, browner flight feathers, lack obvious white tailing wing edge, have well-barred underwing and less extensive, less well-defined white belly. Neither appear as long-billed as Common Snipe, and are markedly shorter-tailed. Both lack pale spots on median coverts, have less well-marked cheek bar, and lower scapulars are fringed cream on both webs. Overall plumage of both typically more buff and less richly chestnut than Common Snipe.

Usually forages near or in water, probing deeply and rhythmically into soft soil. Cranes neck vertically when alert; crouches with tail held vertically and fans tail when alarmed by other birds. When threatened, generally freezes; when flushed, bursts suddenly from cover, calling, and usually flies some distance before landing and then running for cover.

Occurs widely in coastal plains in freshwater marsh habitats, including paddyfields, pastureland, flooded playing fields, etc., sometimes well inland.

Most frequently seen from October to mid-March.