Common Snipe

The Common Snipe is a stocky, superbly camouflaged shorebird found across the wetlands of Europe and Asia, closely resembling the closely related Wilson's Snipe of North America, with which it was once considered a single species.

Its plumage is a complex pattern of buff, brown, and black stripes running the length of the body, providing near-perfect camouflage in reedy marsh vegetation. The bill is extremely long relative to the body, straight, and used for deep probing, while the legs are short and the body compact and rounded.

Key field marks

• Very long, straight bill relative to body size
• Bold buff and dark brown longitudinal stripes over the head and back
• Short legs and a compact, stocky body
• Large eyes set far back on the head for wide-angle vision
• Fast, zigzagging escape flight when flushed

Similar species

• Wilson's Snipe: nearly identical in appearance; found in North America rather than Eurasia, with subtle differences in underwing and tail pattern and a slightly different-pitched winnowing sound in display flight.
• Jack Snipe: smaller, shorter-billed, with a distinctive bouncing gait and a more direct, less erratic flush flight.
• Great Snipe: bulkier, with more barring on the flanks and a slower, more direct flush flight.

Habitat

Common Snipe inhabit wet meadows, marshes, bogs, and the muddy fringes of ponds and rivers, relying on dense low cover for concealment.

Range and migration

They breed across a broad swath of northern Europe and Asia, in wetland and boggy habitats. Many populations are migratory, wintering in southern Europe, Africa, and southern Asia, while some populations in milder climates remain resident year-round.

Behavior

Like its North American counterpart, the Common Snipe performs a dramatic "winnowing" display during the breeding season: males fly high, then dive steeply, with air passing through modified outer tail feathers producing a distinctive, eerie, drumming sound.

Voice

The flushed flight call is a harsh, rasping note, and males also give a rhythmic "chip-per, chip-per" song from prominent perches during the breeding season, in addition to the mechanical winnowing sound.

Feeding

Common Snipe probe deeply into soft, wet ground with their long, flexible-tipped bill, feeling for earthworms, insect larvae, and other invertebrates largely by touch.

Nesting and breeding

The female builds a well-concealed nest on the ground amid dense marsh vegetation, laying a clutch of typically four eggs; the young are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, with care often divided between the parents.