Swinhoe's Snipe
| Swinhoe's Snipe | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Scolopacidae |
| Genus: | Gallinago |
| Species: | G. megala |
| Binomial name | |
| Gallinago megala Swinhoe, 1861 |
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Swinhoe's Snipe, Gallinago megala, also known as Forest Snipe or Chinese Snipe, is a medium-sized (length 27–29 cm, wingspan 38–44 cm, weight 120 gm), long-billed, migratory wader.
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[edit] Identification
Identifiable as a Gallinago snipe by its cryptically-patterned black, brown, buff and white plumage, but not easily distinguished from Latham's and Pin-tailed Snipe in the field. Commonly referred to as cho suekyung in South Korea.
[edit] Distribution
Breeds mainly in central and southern Siberia and Mongolia. Entire population migrates and spends non-breeding season principally in eastern and southern India, Sri Lanka, south-eastern China, South-East Asia and New Guinea. Recorded on migration in eastern China, and occasionally Japan. Records in Australia mainly from the Top End of the Northern Territory and from north-western Western Australia.
[edit] Habitat
Breeding habitat: forest glades and meadows. Non-breeding habitat: shallow freshwater wetlands of various kinds including paddy fields and sewage farms, with bare mud or shallow water for feeding, with nearby vegetation cover.
[edit] Food
Mainly small invertebrates including earthworms, mollusks and insects.
[edit] Breeding
Display flights and drumming by the males.
[edit] Conservation
Because of wide range and no evidence of significant population decline, the species is assessed as being of Least Concern.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Gallinago megala. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9 February 2007
- Higgins, P.J.; & Davies, J.N. (eds). (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 3: Snipe to Pigeons. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553070-5
- Lane, Brett; & Davies, Jeff. (1987). Shorebirds in Australia. RAOU: Melbourne. ISBN 0-17-006824-2
- National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. (1987). The Shorebirds of Australia. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. ISBN 0-207-15348-5
[edit] Further reading
[edit] Identification
- Carey, Geoff and Urban Olsson (1995) Field Identification of Common, Wilson's, Pintail and Swinhoe's Snipes Birding World 8(5): 179-190
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