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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Common Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago) M/Y
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RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska and northern
Yukon to southern Keewatin, northern Quebec, and central
Labrador, south to central California, east-central Arizona, and
northern Colorado across to northern West Virginia, New England,
and the Maritime Provinces. Winters from southeastern Alaska,
southern British Columbia, the central United States, and
Virginia south to South America.
STATUS: Common; recently split from Common Snipe with nominate
species occurring only in extreme Western Alaska.
HABITAT: Inhabits wetlands, especially fens, bogs, swamps, and
marshes, primarily in peatlands scattered within the spruce,
fir, and larch boreal forest. Occupies areas with fairly dense,
low woody growth such as willows and alders, and with a ground
cover of sphagnum, sedges, and grasses, preferably near open
pastures or other clearings. Also inhabits areas of decomposed
wet plant litter along ponds, meandering rivers and brooks, and
other marshy sites. In winter it occupies wet, marshy habitats,
wet meadows, flooded fields, and stream edges.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Bogs, fens, and swamps with moist
organic soils near open areas free of obstacles or high
vegetation that might interfere with display activities.
Strongest breeding habitat associations in wet montane
meadow and around edges of freshwater marsh
NEST: Nests in a scrape on fairly dry ground or in a tussock of
grass or sedge, usually in wet habitats but occasionally at the
edge of wetlands. Conceals nest, sometimes covering it with an
arch of dry vegetation.
FOOD: Forages by probing in soft mud and shallow water, and by
gleaning grasses and the surfaces of marsh plants. Diet consists
primarily of animal foods including insects, crayfish, crabs,
earthworms, and mollusks. Also eats some seeds.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, DeGraff et al. 1980, Fogarty and
Arnold 1977, Miller 1999, Palmer 1967, Shunk 2004, Sperry 1940,
Tuck 1972. |
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