Fuegian Snipe
Gallinago stricklandii
Large and heavy-bodied snipe of remote islands around Tierra del Fuego; very rarely seen and poorly known. Favors tussock grass and wetland habitats with grassy cover, where it runs in preference to flying, but can be very confiding. Plumage is similar to the more common and frequently seen Magellanic Snipe, which has “normal” snipe proportions and is not fat-bodied like the Fuegian Snipe. Fuegian is often darker overall than Magellanic Snipe, with dense pale spotting on upperparts and heavier dark barring on a buffy (not white) belly and thicker legs.
Identification
This 30–32 cm long snipe has a stocky body and relatively short legs for a wader. Its upperparts, head and neck are streaked and patterned with dark brown and buff, and gold edges to the feathers form lines down its back, which are not as sharply defined as in most snipe species.. The belly is buff with brown barring on the flanks. The horn-coloured bill is long, straight and fairly robust. The legs and feet are yellowish-green. The sexes are similar, and immature birds differ only in showing pale fringes on the wing coverts.<p>The Fuegian snipe makes a chip-chip-chip call, and has a sharp, far carrying char-woo in its display flight.<p>The only other snipe with an overlapping range is the Magellan snipe, Gallinago paraguiaiae. Compared with that species, Fuegian snipe is obviously larger, with a heavy woodcock-like flight on broad wings which lack a white trailing edge. On the ground, it lacks the clear pale stripes of its smaller relative.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gallinago stricklandii
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1845)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Gallinago
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
The Fuegian snipe is found in grassy and forested boggy areas with low scrub or rushes, at altitudes ranging from 4,200 m in the north of its down to nearly sea level in Tierra del Fuego, where it also occurs in unforested open grass and scrubby areas.<p>Little is known of its breeding biology, but it has a nocturnal 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. The drumming alternates with the char-woo call.<p>The Fuegian snipe forages by pushing its long bill deep into the mud seeking insects and worms. Its cryptic plumage provides effective camouflage when the bird stands motionless amongst marsh vegetation.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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