Noble Snipe
NameNoble Snipe
Common NameNoble Snipe
Scientific NameGallinago nobilis
FamilyScolopacidae
Wingspan (cm)42
Length (cm)30
Weight (g)140
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are mottled dark brown and buff with pale streaks, providing excellent camouflage. The underparts are whitish with heavy dark barring on the flanks. Its head features a dark crown with a pale central stripe, and dark eye-stripes contrasting with a pale supercilium. The bill is very long, straight, and dark.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a harsh 'chek' or 'kek' call, often given when flushed or in flight. Like other snipes, it may perform an aerial display with a 'drumming' sound produced by its tail feathers.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatswetland, mountain, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Andes Mountains of South America, ranging from Colombia and Venezuela south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia.
Identifying Featuresvery long, straight bill, cryptic brown and buff plumage, striped head pattern (dark crown stripe, pale supercilium, dark eye-stripe), preference for high-altitude wet habitats
Description
The Noble Snipe is a medium-sized wading bird characterized by its cryptic brown and buff plumage and exceptionally long bill. It typically forages in high-altitude wetlands, probing the mud for invertebrates.
