Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australian Painted-snipe
Rostratula australis
Australian Painted-snipe (Rostratula australis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
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The Australian Painted-snipe (Rostratula australis) is a member of the Rostratulidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 121 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Rostratulidae Painted-snipes
- Genus Rostratula
- Species australis
Where it lives
Australia (except west-central, north-central, northeastern, Tasmania)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 121 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rostratulidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian Painted-snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Australian Painted-snipe is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Australian Painted-snipe (Rostratula australis) belongs to the Rostratulidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except wc, nc, ne, Tasmania).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 121 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian Painted-snipe?
The Australian Painted-snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 121 g.
Where does the Australian Painted-snipe live?
The Australian Painted-snipe is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except wc, nc, ne, Tasmania), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Australian Painted-snipe belong to?
The Australian Painted-snipe (Rostratula australis) belongs to the Rostratulidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Australian Painted-snipe eat?
The Australian Painted-snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Australian Painted-snipe migrate?
The Australian Painted-snipe is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Australian Painted-snipe endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
How large is the Australian Painted-snipe's range?
The Australian Painted-snipe has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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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