South American Snipe (Gallinago paraguaiae)

Identification & Behavior: ~27.5 cm (11 in). The South American Snipe has a patterned head and rest of the upperparts. The back shows conspicuous pale or buff stripes. The neck, breast, and sides are streaked and barred, but the center of the belly is pale and unbarred. It is secretive in marshy and muddy habitats. It is very similar to the Puna Snipe, but their ranges are not known to overlap.

Status: The South American Snipe is rare or perhaps overlooked due to its secretive behavior. Overall it is poorly known and has been recorded in scattered locations along large Amazonian Rivers. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, Ch.

Name in Spanish: Becasina Sudamericana.

Sub-species: South American Snipe (Gallinago paraguaiae paraguaiae), Vieillot 1816.

Meaning of Name: Gallinago= L. Galli=hen chicken and ago= similar. paraguaiae L. related or originating in Paraguay, South America.

See more of the Family Scolopacidae