Latham's Snipe — Australian Bird Identification Guide | BetterBirding

Bird guideLatham's Snipe

Courtship consists of display flights and drumming by the males.

Spot this species Read on Wikipedia

⚠️Vulnerable

At a glance

FamilySandpipers and Allies

SizeMedium

RarityCommon

Habitatopen woodland, closed forest, grassland, sparse woodland, and irrigated farmland

Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from December to January.

Sounds

Sound sample

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Recorded by Rev. Dr. Brad Meyer

Range map

Range map

Occurrence window

2105visible hotspots

59221visible records

6states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Breeds in Japan and spends the nonbreeding season mainly in eastern Australia.

Behavior

Latham's snipe ( Gallinago hardwickii ), also Japanese snipe is a medium-sized, long-billed, migratory snipe of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway . It is identifiable as a Gallinago snipe by its cryptically-patterned black, brown, buff and white plumage. The snipe breeds mainly in Hokkaidō in northern Japan , with smaller numbers on Honshū , the eastern Russian mainland and Sakhalin and, historically, the Kurile Islands .

Gallery

Regional timing

New South Wales

Peak: October to January16,377 records

South Australia

Peak: December to January1,613 records

Victoria

Peak: December to January18,544 records

Tasmania

Peak: January to February1,522 records

Queensland

Peak: September to November14,352 records

Australian Capital Territory

Peak: December to January7,358 records

Western Australia

Peak: January3 records

Northern Territory

Peak: November to January59 records

Commonly confused with

Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusOccurs on mudflats, beaches, and coastal marshes. Extensive Eastern Hemisphere range, breeding on the Arctic tundra and wintering on coastlines as far south as Australia and southern Africa. Generally uncommon to rare inland. Formerly considered the same species as Hudsonian Whimbrel, which has a uniform brown rump and lower back. Also very similar to Bristle-thighed Curlew, which overlaps locally in the South Pacific. Eurasian Whimbrel is colder brown and has a white rump rather than the bright buffy rump of Bristle-thighed. Also compare with shorter-billed Little Curlew in Asia, and larger curlews such as Eurasian and Far Eastern.→Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisIn flight appears dark above with broad white stripe up middle of back; long legs project well past tail tip. Usually found singly or mixed in with other waders in varied fresh to brackish wetland habitats, usually with open water.→Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNonbreeding and juvenile are duller brown but still boldly patterned; note orange legs. Interesting behavior of flipping over rocks, shells, and other debris to nab invertebrates. Fairly common, with extensive global range. Breeds in the high Arctic tundra; winters on coastlines nearly worldwide. Prefers rocky habitats, but also seen on beaches and mudflats. Listen for low, hard rattle call.→