Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Common Snipe
Shorebirds
Photo: Carles Pastor · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Gallinago gallinago
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly insects and earthworms; some plant material
Habitat
Marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows
Range
Breeds across the Palearctic; Asian migrants winter in tropical southern Asia
The common snipe is a small, stocky wader of the Old World that breeds in marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows across the Palearctic. It is shy and well camouflaged, foraging in soft mud mainly for insects and earthworms and taking some plant material. In courtship the male flies high in circles and then dives shallowly, making a drumming sound with vibrating tail feathers (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is migratory. European birds winter in southern and western Europe and Africa, and Asian birds move to tropical southern Asia. The 2012 National Red List gives no status under this name.
Quick answers
- What does the Common Snipe eat?
- Mainly insects and earthworms; some plant material
- What habitat does the Common Snipe live in?
- Marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows
- Where is the Common Snipe found?
- Breeds across the Palearctic; Asian migrants winter in tropical southern Asia