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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Overall similar to other plovers, with long legs and rounded body. Long straight bill, brown and white plumage with strong longitudinal stripes on head; dark spotted back, and buff to white | + | Overall similar to other plovers, with long legs and rounded body. Long straight bill, brown and white plumage with strong longitudinal stripes on head; dark spotted back, and buff to white breast. Large black eyes are set back on head. Until recently, this was considered the North American subspecies to the common snipe (“Gallinago gallinago”). It is almost identical in appearance, but has narrower white edge on the wings, and in having eight pairs of tail feathers instead of seven. |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Revision as of 15:22, 14 June 2007
- Gallinago delicata
Description
Short, stocky wading bird, 25-28cm. in length, with wingspan of 43-51cm. Usually solitary in open ground near water.
Identification
Overall similar to other plovers, with long legs and rounded body. Long straight bill, brown and white plumage with strong longitudinal stripes on head; dark spotted back, and buff to white breast. Large black eyes are set back on head. Until recently, this was considered the North American subspecies to the common snipe (“Gallinago gallinago”). It is almost identical in appearance, but has narrower white edge on the wings, and in having eight pairs of tail feathers instead of seven.
Distribution
Found in suitable habitat over much of roughly the southern half of North America in winter; migrates north to the northern half in summer. Year-round resident in the central-western states and on the Pacific Coast of British Columbia.
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia-> Phylum: Chordata-> Class: Aves -> Order: Charadriiformes -> Family: Scolopacidae -> Genus: Gallinago -> Species: delicata
Habitat
Freshwater marshes and swamps, and in open country near lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Behaviour
Probes in mud for insects, larvae, and worms. Secretive; moves slowly and methodically remaining concealed with its camouflage coloration; difficult to spot until it flies. Flight pattern is diagnostic; zig zags about, frequently climbing steeply, then dropping steeply to land after a short flight. Bill often held downward during flight to give unique appearance. Sometimes rests on fence posts and telephone poles. Nests on the the ground in well-concealed nests.
