# Common Snipe (*Gallinago gallinago*) The Common Snipe is a wading bird known for its long bill and beautiful, striped feathers. They love to hide in tall grass and wetlands, making them tricky to spot! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Common Snipe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gallinago_gallinago_a1.JPG&width=800) Photo: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gallinago_gallinago_a1.JPG) ## Appearance The Common Snipe has a stocky body with intricate brown, black, and buff streaky plumage, making it exceptionally camouflaged against wetland vegetation. It features a strikingly long, straight bill and distinctive dark stripes running through its eyes, contrasting with pale stripes above and below. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Gallinago ## Interesting facts - A male snipe makes a 'drumming' sound with its outer tail feathers during a spectacular courtship dive. - Despite being ground-nesting birds, newly hatched snipe chicks can walk and feed themselves almost immediately! - The Common Snipe’s long bill is super sensitive, acting like tweezers to grab hidden food without opening its entire mouth! - Their eyes are placed far back on their heads, giving them nearly 360-degree vision! ## Special abilities - **Zig-Zag Escape:** Common Snipe can fly in unpredictable zig-zag patterns because this helps them dodge predators in mid-air. - **Sensitive Snout:** Common Snipe has a flexible bill tip that helps them feel for worms and insects hidden deep in the mud. - **Stealthy Blend:** Common Snipe can blend perfectly into reedy marshes because its patterned feathers mimic the surrounding plant life. - **Sky Drummer:** Common Snipe creates a unique 'drumming' sound with its tail feathers while diving during courtship flights. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 23-28 cm - **Wingspan:** 39-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.08-0.14 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-4 - **Incubation:** 18-21 days - **Migration Distance:** 3000 km ## Diet & Feeding They slurp up squishy worms and tasty insects hidden in the mud with their super long bills! - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Insect larvae, Beetles, Spiders, Snails, Crayfish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — a favorite food found in mud. - **Eats:** European Crane Fly (*Tipula oleracea*) — eats the larvae of this insect. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — preys on eggs, chicks, and adults. - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — a fast aerial predator. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a bird, watch quietly and don't get too close, so you don't scare it away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Snipe? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Snipe? 23-28 cm ### What is Common Snipe's wingspan? 39-45 cm ### How much does Common Snipe weigh? 0.08-0.14 kg ### How long does Common Snipe live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Common Snipe move? 80 km/h ### What does Common Snipe eat? They slurp up squishy worms and tasty insects hidden in the mud with their super long bills! ### Where is Common Snipe usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Naturpark Mecklenburgische Schweiz und Kummerower See](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mecklenburgische-schweiz-kummerower-see-nature-park) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Dümmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dummer-nature-park) — Niedersachsen; Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Naturpark Hümmling](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hummling-nature-park) — Niedersachsen, DE · Park - [Biosphärenregion Berchtesgadener Land](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berchtesgadener-land-biosphere-region) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Weserbergland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-weserbergland) — Niedersachsen, DE · Park - [Naturpark Vulkaneifel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-vulkaneifel) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Park [View all places to see Common Snipe](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-snipe) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Snipe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-snipe)