Photo: Afsarnayakkan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Painted-snipe
Rostratula benghalensis
Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) is a member of the Rostratulidae family found in Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 121 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 Rostratulidae Painted-snipes
- Genus Rostratula
- Species benghalensis
Where it lives
Widespread inland Africa and tropical to subtropical (locally temperate) Asia: Africa and Madagascar; Indus Valley (central Pakistan) to southern China, central Japan, Philippines and eastern Lesser Sundas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 121 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rostratulidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Painted-snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Greater Painted-snipe is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) belongs to the Rostratulidae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AF, OR widespread inland Africa and tropical to subtropical (locally temperate) Asia: Africa and Madagascar; Indus Valley (c Pakistan) to s China, c Japan, Philippines and e Lesser Sundas.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 121 g, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 4.2 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 25 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Painted-snipe?
The Greater Painted-snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 121 g.
Where does the Greater Painted-snipe live?
The Greater Painted-snipe is found across Africa and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AF, OR widespread inland Africa and tropical to subtropical (locally temperate) Asia: Africa and Madagascar; Indus Valley (c Pakistan) to s China, c Japan, Philippines and e Lesser Sundas, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Greater Painted-snipe belong to?
The Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) belongs to the Rostratulidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Greater Painted-snipe eat?
The Greater Painted-snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Greater Painted-snipe migrate?
The Greater Painted-snipe is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Greater Painted-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.
How large is the Greater Painted-snipe's range?
The Greater Painted-snipe has a mapped global range of about 25 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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