Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Imperial Snipe
Gallinago imperialis
Imperial Snipe (Gallinago imperialis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Imperial Snipe (Gallinago imperialis) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 252 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Gallinago
- Species imperialis
Where it lives
Elfin forest montane bogs of northwestern South America: Ecuador to Peru (old records Colombia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 252 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Imperial Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Imperial Snipe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Imperial Snipe (Gallinago imperialis) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA elfin forest montane bogs of nw South America: Ecuador to Peru (old records Colombia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 252 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 78,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Imperial Snipe?
The Imperial Snipe is a large bird that weighs around 252 g.
Where does the Imperial Snipe live?
The Imperial Snipe is found across South America with a range covering SA elfin forest montane bogs of nw South America: Ecuador to Peru (old records Colombia), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Imperial Snipe belong to?
The Imperial Snipe (Gallinago imperialis) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Imperial Snipe eat?
The Imperial Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Imperial Snipe migrate?
The Imperial Snipe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Imperial Snipe endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Imperial Snipe make?
1 real field recording of the Imperial Snipe can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Imperial Snipe's range?
The Imperial Snipe has a mapped global range of about 78,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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