Madagascar Snipe
Gallinago macrodactyla
Chunky, cryptic, short-legged, long-billed shorebird. Found in thickly vegetated wetlands, including rice fields, in eastern and central Madagascar. Most often seen when it flushes explosively, often giving a rough “trik” call. Display vocalization is a long accelerating series of “kik” notes. Larger than Greater Painted-Snipe, with a much longer bill and duller belly. Distinctive snipe shape separates it from all other shorebirds in its range.
Identification
This is a large and heavy snipe 29–32 cm long with a stocky body and relatively short legs for a wader. Its upperparts, head and neck are streaked and patterned with bold dark brown stripes and gold edges to the feathers forming lines down its back. The belly is white, with some brown barring on the flanks but never on the belly. The blackish bill is very long, straight and fairly robust. The legs and feet are yellowish-olive to greenish-grey. The sexes are similar, and immature differ only in showing buff fringes on the wing coverts.<p>The Madagascar snipe makes a hoarse hlip call as it takes off. In flight, it has a narrow grey trailing edge on the wing and a very dark underwing.<p>The Madagascar snipe has never been recorded elsewhere, and no other snipe species have yet been recorded on Madagascar. Common snipe is smaller, has a paler underwing, and a white trailing edges on the wing. Pin-tailed snipe is similar in plumage to the Madagascar species, but is smaller, shorter-billed and shorter-tailed. African snipe is similar in build to the Madagascar Snipe, but has an obvious white trailing edge on the wing. All the snipes that are potential vagrants to Madagascar have a faster, lighter flight than the resident species.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gallinago macrodactyla
- Authority
- Bonaparte, 1839
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Gallinago
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Madagascar snipe breeds in marshes, swamps, muddy areas, flooded fields and sometimes ricefields. It builds a saucer-shaped nest of dry grass in the drier areas of its breeding wetland. The nest is concealed in a dense tuft of grass or sedges. Breeding occurs from at least July to January.<p>This bird has a spectacular aerial display, which involves flying high in circles, followed by a powerful stoop during which the bird makes a drumming sound, caused by vibrations of modified outer tail feathers.<p>The Madagascar snipe forages by pushing its long bill deep into the mud seeking invertebrates, such as insects and worms, seeds and plants. If alarmed, it freezes, and its cryptic plumage provides effective camouflage when the bird stands motionless amongst marsh vegetation. When flushed, it flies off with a zigzagging action.
Conservation
This bird is uncommon, with the total population estimated at 1,800–7,500 individuals. It is found in small groups of 4–8.<p>The species is threatened by the increasing conversion of wetland-edge habitat to rice cultivation. For example, at the largest block of suitable wetland habitat in Madagascar, Lake Alaotra, 250 km2 (97 sq mi) of the 350 km2 (135 sq mi) surrounding the lake are now under rice production. The species is also threatened by hunting for food, for subsistence use or local trade.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Raja Ampat Pitohui
Pitohui cerviniventris
A medium-sized bird of lowland forest on the northwest islands. Rusty below, gray head, chest and back with brown wings. No other birds in range share this color scheme. At a glance, other species may appear similar although Little Shrikethrush is smaller, and Rusty Pitohui is larger with a white eye. Voice, a series of short, spaced phrases. Some, medium-pitch, bulbullike warbles and other sharp “wik!” notes.
Orangequit
Euneornis campestris
A small inhabitant of moist woodlands where it feeds on nectar and fruit. Note the short and slightly down-curved bill. Males are glossy plumbeous blue with a brick-orange throat but can appear black in poor lighting. Females have a warm brown back that contrasts with a deep gray crown. The Jamaican Euphonia is superficially similar, but has a stubby bill and a greenish back. Vocalizations include a high, thin “tsit-tsit,” with the second note louder and higher in pitch, plus a thin, descending whistled “tsee-uh.”
Band-tailed Guan
Penelope argyrotis
A pale-faced and short-crested guan with a red throat and dark brown body with contrasting fine white streaks. Face markings are distinctive: has a long pale eyebrow and whitish moustache and cheeks; also shows bare bluish gray skin around the eye and a dull rufous tipped tail. Sexes similar. Common in the canopy of cloud forest, generally in groups resting or foraging for fruits. Often very quiet, but easy to see when flying awkwardly from a tree or vocalizing. The alarm call is a soft piping whistle or a loud gruff and harsh burst of calls; also gives a wing-rattle display, common just before sunrise or after sunset. Found only in Colombia and Venezuela.
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