South American Painted-Snipe
NameSouth American Painted-Snipe
Common NameSouth American Painted-Snipe
Scientific NameNycticryphes semicollaris
FamilyRostratulidae
Wingspan (cm)37.5
Length (cm)21
Weight (g)77.5
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is a complex pattern of brown, black, white, and iridescent green/bronze. The back and wings are dark brown with buff streaks and iridescent green/bronze patches, especially on the scapulars. The underparts are whitish, with a distinctive white stripe running from the eye down the neck. The head is dark brown with a pale supercilium and a dark eye-stripe.
Vocalization / CallGenerally a silent bird, but during breeding, it can produce a low, soft 'hoot' or 'coo'. When flushed, it may emit a harsh alarm call.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatswetland, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in South America, primarily distributed across southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and central Argentina.
Identifying Featureslong, slightly decurved bill with an orange tip, cryptic patterned plumage with iridescent patches, distinctive white stripe on the neck, greenish-yellow legs and feet, pale supercilium above the eye
Description
This medium-sized wading bird possesses a distinctive long, slightly decurved bill and highly cryptic plumage. It typically forages in shallow freshwater wetlands and marshes, probing soft mud for invertebrates. Females are generally brighter than males, a common trait among painted-snipes.
