Wood Snipe
Gallinago nemoricola
A rare and infrequently-seen snipe. Like others of its family, it is cryptically colored and intricately patterned with black, brown, and white. Strong, creamy-white markings on its back are especially striking, both when in flight and at rest. Breeds in wet alpine meadows and bogs and winters in forest pools and marshes. Its high-altitude range distinguishes it from most other snipes except Solitary Snipe, which is much grayer and ‘frostier’ in coloration, especially on the face and back.
Taxonomy
It was first described in 1836 by Brian Houghton Hodgson.
- Scientific name
- Gallinago nemoricola
- Authority
- Hodgson, 1836
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Gallinago
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- OR : alpine meadows and scrub of subtropical Asian mts.: w Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh to e India and sc China
- Non-breeding range
- OR : to lower-elevation wetlands and woodlands; rare to Indian Pen. and n se Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Unicolored Thrush
Turdus haplochrous
Drab thrush endemic to floodplain forest of the Río Mamoré and tributaries surrounded by the flooded Moxos grasslands in El Beni, central Bolivia. From similar Hauxwell’s and Black-billed Thrushes by dull olive bill, exposed yellowish orbital skin, and relatively plain throat. Difficult to see, mainly because most of its habitat is tough to access. Song low, full whistles, 5-6 notes with little variation. Calls short full notes, or longer nasal calls.
Gray Apalis
Apalis cinerea
Plain apalis with gray upperparts and pale underparts. The color of the underparts varies geographically, from white to more dingy gray or buff. Found in middle and high-elevation forest, most often in the canopy. Usually in pairs or small groups which will join mixed-species flocks. The main vocalization is a rough, repeated “chree,” which can be accompanied by a rattling call. Very similar to Kungwe Apalis, but separated by the darker head which shows brown tones. Also similar to male Buff-throated Apalis, but has paler upperparts.
Subtropical Doradito
Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis
A bright flycatcher found in marshes in the Andes from Colombia to Argentina. Yellow below and olive above, sometimes showing a hint of a dark mask and dull yellowish edges on the wing feathers. Distinctive in habitat, although could be confused with a female Masked Yellowthroat, which has a pinkish bill and legs. Forages singly or in pairs; can be difficult to see in dense marsh grasses. Mostly occurs from 1,000 to 3,500 m, but some appear to move into lowlands in the winter in southern part of range. Gives single nasal calls as well as a whirring noise produced by the wings.
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