Great Snipe vs African Snipe

Gallinago media compared with Gallinago nigripennis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Great Snipe African Snipe
Scientific Name Gallinago media Gallinago nigripennis
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Scolopacidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 28.2 cm (11.1 in) 25.1 cm (9.9 in)
Weight 185.25 g (6.53 oz) 124.25 g (4.38 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 3-5 2-4
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Great Snipe only

None

African Snipe only

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Great Snipe

Least Concern

African Snipe

About These Birds

Great Snipe

Great Snipe: 27–29 cm, large compact snipe with heavy barring, white-edged tail feathers, and bold white wingbar in flight. Breeds on Scandinavian and Russian boreal bog; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. Performs extraordinary long-distance non-stop flights of up to 6,800 km. NT. Lek-breeding. Invertebrate feeder.

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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