Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pin-tailed Snipe
Gallinago stenura
Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura) 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 stenura
Where it lives
Low Arctic tundra to temperate montane meadows of north-central, northeastern Palearctic: northwestern Siberia and northeastern Kazakhstan and northern Mongolia to central Chukotskiy Pen. to Sea of Okhotsk (eastern Siberia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 113 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 Pin-tailed Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Pin-tailed Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL low Arctic tundra to temperate montane meadows of nc, ne Palearctic: nw Siberia and ne Kazakhstan and n Mongolia to c Chukotskiy Pen. to Sea of Okhotsk (e Siberia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 113 g, with a wing length of about 12.7 cm and a tail of around 4.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pin-tailed Snipe?
The Pin-tailed Snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 113 g.
Where does the Pin-tailed Snipe live?
The Pin-tailed Snipe is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL low Arctic tundra to temperate montane meadows of nc, ne Palearctic: nw Siberia and ne Kazakhstan and n Mongolia to c Chukotskiy Pen. to Sea of Okhotsk (e Siberia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pin-tailed Snipe belong to?
The Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Pin-tailed Snipe eat?
The Pin-tailed Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Pin-tailed Snipe migrate?
The Pin-tailed Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Pin-tailed 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 Pin-tailed Snipe make?
1 real field recording of the Pin-tailed Snipe — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pin-tailed Snipe's range?
The Pin-tailed Snipe has a mapped global range of about 8.8 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.
Explore more birds
More in Scolopacidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Extinct
More in Shorebirds
Near Threatened
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern