Jameson's Snipe
Gallinago jamesoni
Chunky snipe of very high elevations in the Andes. Plumage has a complicated pattern of brown, buff, and black; note extensive barring on underparts and thick, drooping bill. Might be confused with Noble Snipe, but does not have a white belly. Compared to Imperial Snipe, it is smaller and lacks the warm, cinnamon coloration. Jameson’s Snipe inhabits paramo grasslands and stunted forest near tree line. Shy and rarely encountered unless flushed, when it gives a burst of sharp, abrupt “kek” notes.
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 warm brown and buff, and the gold edges to the feathers form lines down its back, which are not as sharply defined as in most snipe species. The belly is white with brown barring. The horn-colored bill is long, straight and fairly robust. The legs and feet are yellowish-green. The sexes are similar, and immatures differ only in showing pale fringes on the wing coverts.<p>The Jameson's snipe makes a whee-tschwu call in its display flight.Compared with other snipe with an overlapping range, Jameson's 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 relatives. Furthermore, the puna snipe which occurs in the lower Andes, Gallinago andina, has yellow legs.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Gallinago jamesoni
- Authority
- (Jardine & Bonaparte, 1855)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Gallinago
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Jameson's snipe is found in marshy areas where grassland and forest intergrade, at altitudes ranging between 2,100 – 3,800 m (mostly 3,000 – 3,500 m). Little is known of its behaviour, but it has an aerial display, which involves flying high in circles, followed by a dive during which the bird makes a drumming sound, caused by vibrations of its modified outer tail feathers.<p>The Jameson's 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
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Plumed Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna eytoni
Large, pale duck with protruding cream-colored plumes on flanks. Stands tall and proud in large flocks around the edges of lakes, ponds, dams, or in nearby agricultural land. As the name suggests, note distinctive whistling call.
Spix's Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus spixii
Medium-sized woodcreeper with a slightly curved bill. Has buff spots on its head which become elongated semi-circles with dark edges on the mantle and underparts. Found in the understory of humid forest, where it regularly accompanies mixed-species flocks and occasionally attends army-ant swarms. The song is a fast trill that ends with a whine “-wheu.” Best distinguished from the similar Striped Woodcreeper by Spix’s darker bill, darker and less contrasting head, and different song and habitat.
Cuban Tody
Todus multicolor
A small, gemlike, woodland species that is usually found in pairs. The rather large head, long bill, and short tail create a unique profile. Also note its shimmering green upperparts and red throat and sides. No similar species occur within its range. It usually hunts from low-to-middle level perches, sitting nearly still before leaping upwards to snatch prey from twigs and leaves. Vocalizations include a loud “chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk,” uttered at a rate of about seven to ten notes per second, with each burst consisting of one to ten notes; bursts often come in rapid succession.
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