Greater Painted-Snipe

Identificazione

The greater painted-snipe are medium-sized shorebirds found in wetland habitat. The birds display sexual dimorphism: females of the species are larger, heavier, and have bolder plumage than the males (see image, left). The females have "dark bronze green upperparts", and an area of castaneous feathers that extends from the lower head area to the chest. They also have a large white eyepatch. By contrast, the males are largely mottled grey and brown, with buff-coloured upper parts. This gives them very strong camouflage when they are in their nests.

Tassonomia

The greater painted-snipe was first described by Carl Linnaeus. The related species Rostratula australis of Australia is endangered, and was formerly a subspecies of R. benghalensis.

Nome scientifico

Rostratula benghalensis

Autorità

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ordine

Caradriformi

Famiglia

Rostratulidi

Genere

Rostratula

Areale e habitat

Greater painted-snipe are very widely distributed; in mainland Africa as well as Madagascar and the Seychelles; in India, and Southeast Asia. Within Africa, they are found in the Nile River Valley and in the non-rainforested areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. They are notably absent from the eastern portion of Somalia, from the desert areas of Namibia, and from parts of Botswana and South Africa. Despite their wide distribution, they are uncommon within their range. There are between 31,000 and 1,000,000 mature individuals alive, according to BirdLife International. Although the greater painted-snipe inhabit a variety of wetland habitats, they prefer muddy areas with available cover (i.e., vegetation). They are also found on the edges of lakes and rivers, provided there is cover nearby, and in marshes and around swamps.

Migrazione

Specie stanziale

Comportamento

Comportamento migratorio: Specie stanziale.

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione: in diminuzione.

Tendenza della popolazione

in diminuzione