Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Wood Snipe
Gallinago nemoricola
Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 168 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Gallinago
- Species nemoricola
Where it lives
Alpine meadows and scrub of subtropical Asian mts.: western Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh to eastern India and south-central China
Quick facts
- Weight
- 168 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Wood Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Wood Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola) belongs to the Scolopacidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR alpine meadows and scrub of subtropical Asian mts.: w Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh to e India and sc China.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 168 g, with a wing length of about 13.5 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 468,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Wood Snipe?
The Wood Snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 168 g.
Where does the Wood Snipe live?
The Wood Snipe is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR alpine meadows and scrub of subtropical Asian mts.: w Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh to e India and sc China, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Wood Snipe belong to?
The Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Wood Snipe eat?
The Wood Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Wood Snipe migrate?
The Wood Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Wood Snipe endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Wood Snipe make?
1 real field recording of the Wood Snipe — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Wood Snipe's range?
The Wood Snipe has a mapped global range of about 468,000 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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