African Snipe vs Short-billed Dowitcher
Gallinago nigripennis compared with Limnodromus griseus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Snipe | Short-billed Dowitcher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallinago nigripennis | Limnodromus griseus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae | Scolopacidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.1 cm (9.9 in) | 28.6 cm (11.3 in) |
| Weight | 124.25 g (4.38 oz) | 110.68333333333334 g (3.90 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
African Snipe only
None
Short-billed Dowitcher only
None
Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Snipe
Vulnerable
Short-billed Dowitcher
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.
Short-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher: 25–29 cm, very similar to Long-billed but averaging shorter bill, more orange in breeding plumage, and more coastal wintering habitat. Breeds on boreal and subarctic tundra of North America; winters on tidal mudflats from the southeastern US to Brazil. Feeds by sewing-machine probing. Long-distance migrant.