African Snipe vs Pin-tailed Snipe

Gallinago nigripennis compared with Gallinago stenura

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute African Snipe Pin-tailed Snipe
Scientific Name Gallinago nigripennis Gallinago stenura
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Scolopacidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 25.1 cm (9.9 in) 25.4 cm (10.0 in)
Weight 124.25 g (4.38 oz) 125.33333333333333 g (4.42 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-4 3-4
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

African Snipe only

Pin-tailed Snipe only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

African Snipe

Least Concern

Pin-tailed Snipe

About These Birds

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.

Pin-tailed Snipe

Pin-tailed Snipe: 25–27 cm, medium snipe with very narrow outer tail feathers (hence 'pin-tailed') and buffy wingbar. Breeds on Siberian wet meadow and boggy tundra; migrates to winter on marshes and rice paddies of South and Southeast Asia. Probes soft mud for invertebrates. Long-distance migrant. Difficult to distinguish from Swinhoe's in field.

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