Black Turnstone vs African Snipe

Arenaria melanocephala compared with Gallinago nigripennis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Black Turnstone African Snipe
Scientific Name Arenaria melanocephala Gallinago nigripennis
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Scolopacidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 28.4 cm (11.2 in) 25.1 cm (9.9 in)
Weight 128.33333333333334 g (4.53 oz) 124.25 g (4.38 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 4 2-4
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Black Turnstone only

None

African Snipe only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Black Turnstone

Least Concern

African Snipe

About These Birds

Black Turnstone

Black Turnstone: 22–25 cm, stocky dark shorebird with black head, breast, and upperparts, and bold white wing pattern in flight. Breeds on coastal marshes of Alaska; winters on Pacific rocky shores from Alaska south to Baja California. Flips stones and kelp to expose invertebrates. Specialist of Pacific rocky coastlines. Long-distance migrant.

African Snipe

African Snipe: 25–28 cm, medium-large snipe resident in high-altitude wetlands, bogs, and marshy grassland of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Sudan to the Cape. Cryptic brown-and-buff streaking. Probes soft mud for invertebrates. Sedentary. Performs display 'drumming' flights with spread tail in breeding season.

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