Photo: Hobbyfotowiki / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 113 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Gallinago
- Species gallinago
Where it lives
Widespread low Arctic to temperate wetlands of Palearctic: Iceland to British Isles, Scandinavia, France and Azores (northern Macaronesia, northwest of northern Africa) east through northern Russia to central Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk and Commander Is. (southeastern Russia); in south to northern Kazakhstan, eastern Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, Kashmir (northwestern Himalayas), northern Mongolia and northeastern China
Quick facts
- Weight
- 113 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a species of sandpipers, snipes in the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia — widespread low Arctic to temperate wetlands of Palearctic: Iceland to British Isles, Scandinavia, France and Azores (n Macaronesia, nw of n Africa) e through n Russia to c Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk and Commander Is. (se Russia); in s to n Kazakhstan, e Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, Kashmir (nw Himalayas), n Mongolia and ne China.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Snipe?
The Common Snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 113 g.
Where does the Common Snipe live?
The Common Snipe is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread low Arctic to temperate wetlands of Palearctic: Iceland to British Isles, Scandinavia, France and Azores (n Macaronesia, nw of n Africa) e through n Russia to c Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk and Commander Is. (se Russia); in s to n Kazakhstan, e Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, Kashmir (nw Himalayas), n Mongolia and ne China, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Snipe belong to?
The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Common Snipe eat?
The Common Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Snipe migrate?
The Common Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Snipe endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Snipe make?
1 real field recording of the Common Snipe — including its drumming — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Snipe's range?
The Common Snipe has a mapped global range of about 20.1 million 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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