Greater Painted-Snipe

Resident in low density in freshwater marshes along coastal plains. Some in Bornean Malaysia may be migrants.

Females larger and brighter than males. Medium-sized, stocky shorebird with drooping bill and yellowish legs, large eye surrounded by prominent pale eyering and line running up the front of the folded wing. In flight, broad, rounded wings spotted buff above; oval-shaped white patches either side of dark central rump. From below, wing has dark brown leading edge, rest of coverts white and flight feathers mottled grey. Feet protrude beyond tail-tip in flight. Ad ♂: Bill olive (suffused with orange-red toward tip during the breeding season, Apr – Aug in Peninsular Malaysia). Buff central crown stripe, eyering and postocular line, dark brown crown and lower ear coverts. Throat and breast streaked and mottled brown and pale brown; lower edge of breast blackish. Dark, mottled foreflanks separated from breast by a white line which becomes orange-buff as it merges with mantle and then runs along edges of upper scapulars. Rest of underparts white. Lower scapulars blackish with white or buff transverse bars. Coverts and tertials olive-brown with large buff oval spots and bars. Primaries and secondaries have four rows of buff spots against a mottled greyish background.Tail similarly patterned. Ad ♀: Bill olive to salmon pink or orange in breeding season. Eyering and postocular line white; nape, throat and breast rich unstreaked chestnut, darker below eyeline and on lower edge of breast. Line separating breast from blackish foreflanks white and extending up to mantle and along edges of upper scapulars. Scapulars and wing coverts rich olive-russet, finely barred black, lacking buff spots. Primary upperwing coverts, flight feathers and tail blackish at base, grey distally with orange-buff oval spots.

Seen at dusk in reeds, might be confused with rail or crake species. Habit of bobbing rear-end, and white line in front of wing might suggest Common Sandpiper if views are poor and momentary. In flight, tail pattern recalls Ruff. However, unmistakable, given reasonable views.

Secretive and keeps to cover. Active at dawn and dusk. Solitary except during the breeding season, when several males may accompany a female. Sometimes feeds by sweeping bill from side to side. Bobs rear-end like Common Sandpiper. Females are polyandrous, mating with several males. After egg-laying, males take on parental care – four eggs are usually laid. During courtship, females become aggressive, spreading both wings and raising one wing (flagging), chasing males and calling frequently.

Occurs in swamp, marshland habitat in the coastal plains of Peninsular Malaysia, most frequently encountered along the west coast. In Bornean Malaysia, recorded only from coastal western Sarawak, the Kelabit Highlands and coastal north-eastern Sabah.

Present year round.