Bécassine sourde

Identification

Adults are smaller than common snipe and have relatively shorter bill. Length is 18–25 cm (7.1–9.8 in), wingspan is 30–41 cm (12–16 in) and weight is 33–73 g (1.2–2.6 oz). The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye. The wings are pointed and narrow, and yellow back stripes are visible in flight. When seen, the distinctive bobbing movement, as if the bird is on springs, has an almost hypnotic quality.[citation needed]<p>The head pattern of jack snipe differs from common snipe and other species in the genus Gallinago, in that there is no central crown-stripe; instead, there are two pale lateral crown-stripes, which are separated from the supercilium by an area of dark plumage.

Taxonomie

Nom scientifique

Lymnocryptes minimus

Autorité

(Brünnich, 1764)

Ordre

Charadriiformes

Famille

Scolopacidés

Genre

Bécassine sourde

Répartition et habitat

Jack snipes are migratory, spending the non-breeding period in Great Britain, Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal Europe, Africa, and India. The jack snipe is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. Their breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows with short vegetation in northern Europe and northern Russia.

Aire de reproduction

PAL : subarctic to temperate taiga wetlands of n Palearctic: Scandinavia and ne Poland to e Sakha Republic (ec Siberia)

Aire hors reproduction

OR, AF : temperate to tropical inland wetlands of w, c Eastern Hemisphere mainly n of Equator: Faroe and British Is., w, s Europe, Mediterranean, n, c tropical Africa, Middle East and Indian subcontinent

Migration

Complete migrants

Comportement

Jack snipe can be secretive in their non-breeding areas and are difficult to observe, being well camouflaged in their habitat. Consequently, birdwatchers have developed a specialised technique for finding them. This involves walking through its marshy habitat until a bird is disturbed and flies up. Jack snipe will squat down and not flush from cover until an intruder is quite close. They then quietly fly a short distance before dropping back into vegetation.<p>They forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material.<p>The male performs an aerial display during courtship, during which it makes a distinctive sound like a galloping horse. It is silent in winter. They nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, laying 3–4 eggs.

Conservation

Tendance de la population

stable