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Cryptic shorebird of wetlands, wet meadows, and both flooded and dry agricultural fields.
Not listed
Indigenous: Pin-Tailed Snipe
At a glance
FamilySandpipers and Allies
SizeMedium
RarityRare
HabitatMudflats, saltmarsh, estuaries, beaches, lagoons, and shallow inland wetlands.
Best timeMost reliable in Western Australia from April.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇
Range map
Range map
4visible hotspots
4visible records
1states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Extremely similar in appearance to other snipe, particularly Swinhoe's Snipe; careful study and photography usually required to confirm identification. Namesake diagnostic thin gray outer tail feathers are only visible when tail is spread. Lacks Common Snipe's eye-catching white trailing edge of the wing. Averages less buffy than both Common and Swinhoe's, with slightly bolder white edgings to the wing feathers; darker and more richly colored than Latham's Snipe. In flight, toes project further beyond tail than in other Asian snipe.
Behavior
Cryptic shorebird of wetlands, wet meadows, and both flooded and dry agricultural fields. When flushed, gives a rasping call that is not as loud as Common Snipe’s call; also flies less erratically than that species.
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