Photo: en:User:Talshiarr (Sean Breazeal) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Wilson’s Snipe

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of Canada Sandpipers & Allies of the United Kingdom Sandpipers & Allies of the United States Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Manitoba Sandpipers & Allies of New Brunswick Sandpipers & Allies of Newfoundland and Labrador Sandpipers & Allies of Nova Scotia Sandpipers & Allies of Northwest Territories

See what's near you right now

The Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 113 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Gallinago
Species delicata

Where it lives

Alaska to eastern Canada and northern tier of continental USA

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 113 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Wilson’s Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Wilson’s Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Alaska to e Canada and northern tier of continental USA.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 113 g, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 5.5 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 12 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Wilson’s Snipe — Call

Recorded by Dag Österlund Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Wilson’s Snipe?

The Wilson’s Snipe is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 113 g.

Where does the Wilson’s Snipe live?

The Wilson’s Snipe is found across North America with a range covering NA Alaska to e Canada and northern tier of continental USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Wilson’s Snipe belong to?

The Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Wilson’s Snipe eat?

The Wilson’s Snipe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Wilson’s Snipe migrate?

The Wilson’s Snipe is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Wilson’s 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 Wilson’s Snipe make?

1 real field recording of the Wilson’s 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 Wilson’s Snipe's range?

The Wilson’s Snipe has a mapped global range of about 12 million km².