The Great Snipe, Gallinago media is a small stocky wader.
This bird's breeding habitat is marshes and wet meadows with short vegetation in north eastern Europe and north western Russia. Great Snipes are migratory, wintering in Africa. The European breeding population is in steep decline.
The males display at a dusk lek during the breeding season, standing erect with chest puffed and tail fanned. They may jump into the air. They produce a variety of rattles, clicks, buzzes and whistles while displaying. 3-4 eggs are laid in a nest in a well-hidden location on the ground.
These birds forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, and occasional plant material. They are difficult to see, being well camouflaged in their habitat. When flushed from cover, they fly straight for a considerable distance before dropping back into vegetation.
At 26-30 cm in length and a 42-50 cm wingspan, adults are only slightly larger, but much bulkier, than Common Snipe and have a shorter bill. The body is mottled brown on top and barred underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye. The wings are broad, and a pale wingbar is visible in flight.
External links
Great Snipe (http://w1.500.telia.com/~u50004376/swanberg/sveip_eng.htm)
The GreatSnipe is defined in the IUCN Red Data Book as a near-threatened species of birds, which is why the international action plan for the species was compiled.
Although data on the reproduction of the GreatSnipe are insufficient, the status of its population in Estonia may still be considered to be fair.
The GreatSnipe is under strict protection on the basis of the EU Bird Directive and several conventions.
General size and structure, GreatSnipe is large and pot-bellied and with a slightly shorter bill than Common Snipe.
Underparts, GreatSnipe is heavily barred down the breast, belly and flanks, much more than Common Snipe, which is barred only on the upper breast and flanks.
The outer tail feathers of GreatSnipe are pure white, contrasting with the rufous central tail feathers.
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