Photo: WildlifeOdyssey Amit / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Solitary Snipe
Gallinago solitaria
Solitary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Solitary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 140 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 solitaria
Where it lives
Montane wetlands of central, eastern Palearctic: Altai and Tien Shan mts. from south-central Russia, northeastern Kazakhstan, northwestern Xinjiang and northern Mongolia east to Kamchatka and northeastern China
Quick facts
- Weight
- 140 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Solitary Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Solitary Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Solitary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria) belongs to the Scolopacidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL montane wetlands of c, e Palearctic: Altai and Tien Shan mts. from sc Russia, ne Kazakhstan, nw Xinjiang and n Mongolia e to Kamchatka and ne China.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 140 g, with a wing length of about 16 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Solitary Snipe?
The Solitary Snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 140 g.
Where does the Solitary Snipe live?
The Solitary Snipe is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL montane wetlands of c, e Palearctic: Altai and Tien Shan mts. from sc Russia, ne Kazakhstan, nw Xinjiang and n Mongolia e to Kamchatka and ne China, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Solitary Snipe belong to?
The Solitary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Solitary Snipe eat?
The Solitary Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Solitary Snipe migrate?
The Solitary Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Solitary 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 Solitary Snipe make?
1 real field recording of the Solitary Snipe can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Solitary Snipe's range?
The Solitary Snipe has a mapped global range of about 4.2 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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