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Formerly contained [[Wilson's Snipe]] (''delicata''), now recognized as a full species. | Formerly contained [[Wilson's Snipe]] (''delicata''), now recognized as a full species. | ||
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>==== | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>==== | ||
− | *''G. g. faeroeensis'' - breeds in [[Iceland]], [[ | + | *''G. g. faeroeensis'' - breeds in [[Iceland]], [[Faroe Islands]], [[Orkney Islands]] and [[Shetland Islands]]; winters to [[British Isles]] |
*''G. g. gallinago'' - protected by AEWA<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>; breeds in N Palearctic and [[Aleutian Islands]]; winters to [[Africa]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]] | *''G. g. gallinago'' - protected by AEWA<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>; breeds in N Palearctic and [[Aleutian Islands]]; winters to [[Africa]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]] | ||
Revision as of 09:32, 19 January 2009
- Gallinago gallinago
Identification
Brown back with creamy stripes. Striped head with cream central stripe. White belly, barred flanks. Long bill.
Distribution
Breeds in northern Palearctic; winters in southern Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Taxonomy
Formerly contained Wilson's Snipe (delicata), now recognized as a full species.
Subspecies1
- G. g. faeroeensis - breeds in Iceland, Faroe Islands, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands; winters to British Isles
- G. g. gallinago - protected by AEWA2; breeds in N Palearctic and Aleutian Islands; winters to Africa, India, Indonesia
Habitat
The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia.
Behaviour
This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators.
Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground.
Vocalisation
The song has been described as "Chipper Chipper."
<flashmp3>Gallinago gallinago (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Reference
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
- Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.
Wikipedia
External Links
- A thread describing the differences between this species and Wilson's Snipe is found [here]