Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe
Attagis gayi
Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis gayi) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis gayi) is a member of the Thinocoridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 311 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 Thinocoridae Seedsnipes
- Genus Attagis
- Species gayi
Where it lives
Montane northern, central Ecuador to southeastern Chile and southwestern Argentina (to southern Santa Cruz Province)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 311 g
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Thinocoridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis gayi) belongs to the Thinocoridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA montane n, c Ecuador to se Chile and sw Argentina (to s Santa Cruz Province).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 311 g, with a wing length of about 19 cm and a tail of around 7 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 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe?
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe is a large bird that weighs around 311 g.
Where does the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe live?
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe is found across South America with a range covering SA montane n, c Ecuador to se Chile and sw Argentina (to s Santa Cruz Province), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe belong to?
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis gayi) belongs to the Thinocoridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe eat?
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe migrate?
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe 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 Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe's range?
The Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe has a mapped global range of about 1 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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