Gallinago gallinago
Range
The common snipe breeds in the summer from Alaska to Newfoundland south to the mid-United States. It winters north from northern South America to British Columbia, the northern Gulf States and Virginia. It is also found in Europe, Northern Africa and Asia.
Habitat
They are located by ponds, in marshes, wet meadows and bogs.
Body Traits
They are brownish tan with black stripes (bars) and a white chest and belly. They have a striped head with a long, pointed bill.
Habits
They hide in the tall grass. If they are threatened by a predator, they try to scare it off by bursting out from its hiding place and flying in a zig-zag pattern to escape.
Diet
They eat seeds and fruits.
Reproduction
Males are territorial and to attract a mate, they do a flying, diving display. Their feathers making a drumming sound as they dive. They make a nest in a clump of tall grass where the female lays about 4 eggs.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Gallinago
Species: G. gallinago