Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Plump, well-camouflaged shorebird that blends into wet meadows and marshes. Dark and heavily marked, with pale buffy stripes on back and face. Extremely long bill used to probe into mud for invertebrates. Similar in shape to American Woodcock but much darker with extensive markings on underparts. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America, wintering to northern South America. Found in muddy wetlands, flooded fields, and marshes, usually singly but sometimes gathering in loose groups. When flushed, listen for rough call note. On breeding grounds, watch and listen for aerial flight display, given day and night: a rapid series of hoot-like noises produced by the outer tail feathers in flight.
Identification
Adults are 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) in length with a 39–45 cm (15–18 in) wingspan. Weight ranges from 2.8–5.2 oz (79–147 g). They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gallinago delicata
- Authority
- (Ord, 1825)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Gallinago
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- NA : Alaska to e Canada and northern tier of continental USA
- Non-breeding range
- NA (south of breeding range) to n SA
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Carmiol's Tanager
Chlorothraupis carmioli
Large and chunky with stout dark bill. Nondescript plumage: entirely olive-green with slightly brighter yellowish throat and upper breast. Sexes alike. Compare with female Red-throated Ant-Tanager, which is somewhat more slender and longer-tailed, has a more contrasting pale throat, and paler legs. Found in lowlands and foothills, where small flocks move through lower and middle levels of humid forests. Often in mixed feeding flocks with other species. Occurs from eastern Honduras to extreme northwestern Colombia. Listen for its loud, fast, long-winded song of whistles and chips, along with grating squeaky scold calls.
Streak-breasted Treehunter
Thripadectes rufobrunneus
This warm brown forest dweller is similar to many other foliage-gleaners and treehunters. Look for the relatively bright orangey throat with streaking on the breast. The bill is all dark. Also note the plain head without an eyebrow. Found in montane forests from 900 to 2500m, where it moves at low to middle heights. Seen singly or in pairs, often with a mixed-species flock. Song is a harsh series of paired notes.
Black-bellied Thorntail
Discosura langsdorffi
Tiny, coquette-like hummingbird. Males are iridescent emerald green with a black belly, bold white rump band, short crest, and long, straight tail feathers. Females are similar, but are duller below with a shorter tail. Compared to the similar Festive Coquette, females have darker plumage. Usually found in mature rainforest, where it forages at flowering trees at all levels of the forest.
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