Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

The Snipe (Common Snipe) is an incongruous-looking wading bird with its short legs and over-sized bill. It is native to inland waterways and marshes throughout northern Eurasia. Many northerly birds migrate south (southern Europe, Africa, south Asia) for winter.

The Jack Snipe (not shown) looks similar but is smaller with a shorter bill, more patterned and with a bobbing habit. It has no central stripe on its head. Across the globe there are some 17 species of Gallinago snipes that also look similar. In the UK, the Woodcock, a woodland bird, is also similar but its head stripes are latitudinal rather than longditudinal.

Male and female have similar plumage. The cryptic plumage gives good camouflage in the reeds.

The long, thin bill makes it look as if it is using a drinking straw. The different bill lengths and shapes of waders mean that they don't compete so much for the same food resources.