Photo: eva bindhi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magellanic Snipe
Gallinago magellanica
Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 109 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 magellanica
Where it lives
Wet grassland of temperate southern South America: central Chile and central Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 109 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magellanic Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Magellanic Snipe is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica) belongs to the Scolopacidae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA wet grassland of temperate s South America: c Chile and c Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Is.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 109 g, with a wing length of about 11.6 cm and a tail of around 4.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magellanic Snipe?
The Magellanic Snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 109 g.
Where does the Magellanic Snipe live?
The Magellanic Snipe is found across South America with a range covering SA wet grassland of temperate s South America: c Chile and c Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Magellanic Snipe belong to?
The Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Magellanic Snipe eat?
The Magellanic Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Magellanic Snipe migrate?
The Magellanic Snipe is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Magellanic 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 Magellanic Snipe make?
1 real field recording of the Magellanic Snipe — including its drumming — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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