Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Giant Snipe

Gallinago undulata

Giant Snipe (Gallinago undulata) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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Birds of Brazil Birds of Colombia

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Sandpipers & Allies of Brazil Sandpipers & Allies of Colombia

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The Giant Snipe (Gallinago undulata) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 312 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Gallinago
Species undulata

Where it lives

Wet grassland of northern, southeastern South America

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 312 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Giant Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Giant Snipe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Giant Snipe (Gallinago undulata) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA wet grassland of n, se South America.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 312 g, with a wing length of about 15.5 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.6 million km².

Songs & calls

Giant Snipe — Alarm call, call

Recorded by Méryl GERVOT Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Giant Snipe?

The Giant Snipe is a large bird that weighs around 312 g.

Where does the Giant Snipe live?

The Giant Snipe is found across South America with a range covering SA wet grassland of n, se South America, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Giant Snipe belong to?

The Giant Snipe (Gallinago undulata) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Giant Snipe eat?

The Giant Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Giant Snipe migrate?

The Giant Snipe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Giant 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 Giant Snipe make?

1 real field recording of the Giant Snipe — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Giant Snipe's range?

The Giant Snipe has a mapped global range of about 2.6 million km².