Gallinago

Gallinago is a genus of wading birds in the family Scolopacidae, commonly known as snipes. Members are medium-sized marsh birds with rounded bodies, long straight bills, and cryptic brown, black, and white plumage that helps conceal them in reeds and mud. They tend to be stocky with relatively short legs and a habit of probing soft substrates for invertebrates. Their plumage provides effective camouflage in wetland habitats.

Distribution and habitat: Gallinago snipes occur across the Old and New World, from boreal marshes to tropical wetlands. They are largely migratory, with temperate-zone populations wintering further south. They favor shallow water, reed beds, marsh margins, and wet grasslands, where their feeding style and secretive behavior suit the vegetation.

Behavior and diet: They forage by slowly creeping the bill into mud or leaf litter to sample invertebrates, including insects, molluscs, and worms. They are typically shy and elusive, flushing only with difficulty. When startled, they fly with rapid, zigzag wingbeats. In the breeding season, males perform brisk aerial displays, producing a distinctive drumming sound with their tail feathers.

Breeding and taxonomy: The genus includes several species, notably the common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Wilson’s snipe (G. delicata), great snipe (G. media), Japanese snipe (G. hardwickii), and Swinhoe’s snipe (G. megala). Nests are ground-based in vegetation, with eggs camouflaged to blend with their surroundings.

Conservation: Most Gallinago species have wide ranges and are not globally threatened, but habitat loss, drainage, and hunting have impacted some populations, especially those with restricted ranges or migratory routes.