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PLATE 40: SNIPES AND WOODCOCK
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus pm, wv
L: 18 (incl. bill 4cm). W: 40. Very small with short bill. Well camouflaged and difficult to flush, usually
rising silently at about one metre or less, in low, slightly jerky flight and settling almost immediately;
two bright yellow lines on upperparts and short, pointed tail distinctive. On ground note green-
glossed back, absence of central crown-stripe and dark-striped flanks (not barred). Separated
from other snipes by size and short bill. Usually solitary. Voice Usually silent when flushed.
Habitat Wetland margins. Note Passage and winter hatched, but mostly scarce.Great Snipe Gallinago media pm, wv
L: 28 (incl. bill 6cm). W: 49. Larger, heavier and darker than Common and Pin-tailed Snipes with
shorter bill and closely barred underparts and underwings. When flushed, rises at short distance,
flies low and straight without zigzagging; flight heavy with rather slow wingbeats; pot-bellied
appearance reminiscent of a small Woodcock. In flight, note absence of white belly-patch (shown
by Common and Pin-tailed Snipes), dark underwing (similar to Pin-tailed, but unlike Common Snipe);
white wing-bars on greater and median coverts, including primary coverts, more white on tail-
corners and absence of white trailing edge to secondaries (conspicuous in Common Snipe). Voice
When flushed low-pitched, rather weak, muffled orrk. Habitat Marshes, stubble fields, wet or dry
rough grassland. Note Passage hatched, but rare; rare/vagrant Saudi Arabia; vagrant UAE, Yemen.Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago PM, WV
L: 26 (incl. bill 7cm). W: 45. Medium-sized with distinctly yellow-striped head and upperparts, dark-
striped breast, barred flanks and very long bill; probes mud with vibrating movements. Often squats
low; usually not seen until flushed at 10–15m distance; rises explosively, immediately uttering
several harsh calls, while zigzagging to a good height. In flight, shows narrow white trailing edge
to wings (lacking in Pin-tailed Snipe) and white belly. See Pin-tailed Snipe for further differences.
Voice When flushed utters a few harsh ärrtch notes with slightly rising inflection. In aerial display
produces distinctive reverberating sound (‘drumming’). Habitat Wet grasslands, marshy water-
margins. Note Passage and winter hatched.Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura PM, WV
L: 26 (incl. bill 6.5cm). W: 45. Very similar to Common Snipe; best distinguished in flight, when note
paler grey-buff panel on wing-coverts, absence of white trailing edge to secondaries, slightly
more rounded wing-tips, and completely barred underwing-coverts making underwing look dark
greyish (Common Snipe shows broad white bands, creating much paler underwing). On ground
appears generally colder and darker above, with shorter, broader-based bill, shorter tail, bulging
supercilium in front of eye (more parallel-sided in Common Snipe), more scalloped scapular
pattern due to similar width and coloration of pale edges on inner and outer webs (in Common
Snipe scapulars have broad white edges on outer webs only, contrasting with brown inner webs,
creating white, often diagonal stripes) and barred median wing-coverts (more spotted in Common
Snipe). When flushed, has slower take-off with slightly heavier, less erratic, flight; flies lower and
drops after short distance. Voice A short, sneezed dry etch, often given just once; close to Common
Snipe’s call but shorter, without inflection. Habitat Wet fields, marshes, more often on drier ground
than Common Snipe. Note Passage and winter hatched, but uncommon; vagrant Iran, Saudi Arabia.Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola V
L: 34. W: 58. Plumper and larger than the snipes; mainly in woodland. Usually seen when flushed;
rises silently with zigzagging flight between trees, showing long bill, round body, broad wings,
red-brown rump and tail with black subterminal band. On ground note large eyes set far back,
barred crown (striped in snipes), and completely barred buff underparts. Often only flushes almost
underfoot. Voice Displays at dusk in level, direct flight low over treetops, with distinctive call: one or
more deep croaks followed by sharp twzzip. Habitat Woodland floor, scrub, thick cover. Note Winter
hatched; vagrant Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE.