The Elusive Wilson's Snipe
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- I didn't know of the existence of this bird until one day in early June. I was driving away from a trail and saw a strange looking bird sitting atop a fence post with a very long bill. There was something odd about its face but I couldn't identify exactly what. It had a plump body and a stubby tail. The bird just looked goofy to me and I was immediately intrigued. What bird was this? What was the purpose of having such a long bill? Was it a year-round resident or was it a migrant?
After I got home I dove into some research and identified it as the Wilson's Snipe. Being a very elusive bird, it's not one that you can reliably find on any given day. On subsequent birding trips, I quickly learned that I couldn't go searching for it, so much as I had to wait for it to come to me.
You've probably heard of the phrase "go on a snipe hunt" as a way to keep kids occupied, or to otherwise pull a prank on somebody or give them a fool's errand...
Watch Wilson's Snipes foraging, bathing and preening with no commentary here: • Wilson's Snipes Foragi...
Chapters:
An intriguing new bird 00:00
Taxonomy: What's in a name? 01:29
Habitat 02:45
Similar Species 03:12
Eyes 03:38
Long Bill 04:35
Cryptic Color Pattern 05:15
Fast Flyers 05:38
What is winnowing? 06:13
Nesting 07:04
Migration 07:47
Conservation 08:05
Conclusion 08:44
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Photos and videos from free use sites, name and site credited in video.
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Wikipedia Creative Commons License creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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Winnowing sound clip:
Martin St-Michel XC179591 xeno-canto.org/179591
Thumbnail photo credit: All Things Birdie
Photo of Wilson's snipe feeding in mud: Wikipedia by Bettina Arrigoni
Have you found an injured or orphaned bird or wildlife?
Do a quick search for a wildlife rehabilitation clinic in your area. They will tell you what to do. If you can't find one, contact a local veterinarian and see if they know who to contact. Do not attempt to rehabilitate a bird or animal on your own. - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
Some years ago I introduced a friend to the fun of birding, and very soon after she and members of her family were hooked. Anyway, this first time involved a weekend at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Yes, THAT refuge is one of my favorite places on the planet. The first time my friend spotted a new bird on her own, she exclaimed “Look! What is it? It has such a different shape!” I replied “Oh, you found a Wilson’s Snipe.”
She, looking at me strangely, “Ya, right… What is it really?”
She thought the summer camp game , “snipe hunt”, that kept the kids at scout and church camps running around in the woods on a futile search, meant that there was no such bird. We had a good laugh.
We here in Michigan have "timberdoodles" aka Woodcock. They are migratory birds and love the swamps here eating worms and bugs.
I just saw them for the first time this week in Southern California wetlands. They were doing a little bobbing dance while foraging. Nearby, a Spotted Sandpiper was doing a huge bobbing dance while foraging. Fun to watch.
Excellent information and presentation.
Your videos are fun! My favorite thing about snipes and other shore birds is the precocial nature of the young. :)
One of my favorite birds. I do see them on fence posts but rarely . I hear them all the time their wings make a loud fluttering sound very recognizable .
I used to hunt these birds around creeks and marshy areas.After they flush up,nine out of ten times they will turn and fly right over your head.They were plenty of them in the 70s and 80s.I have bagged both snipe and woodcock in the same area.I haven't hunted in about 20 yrs.Now I like to watch them instead of eat them.
For me it's definitely their big pecs! Gives them such a cute shape
Thank you for this video! We were hearing the whirring sound, or the winner wing, and could not figure out what bird it was. Your video gave us an excellent explanation.We are in the Pacific Northwest and this is a bird we have never noticed here before!
That is a neat bird!
I am amazed that it makes the sound with its wings!
Thank you for the video, learned some things I did not know. My mother prompted her kids to respond whenever asked if we had ever been on a snipe hunt (which usually came about when our name was divulged) with, "No, but my mother caught one!"
Realy fun history here thankyou .
I thought the snipe was a myth . Cannt wait to tell my son I found it , through you of course .
A very interesting bird .thankyou .
I have seen a few and gotten pictures of some. I think most people, including me in the past, would walk right past without noticing them along a shore line.
I have observed that same dancing move with Killdeer. I expect it is for the reason, trying to find food.
Wonderful information! I heard my first snipe yesterday and can’t wait to hear it again!
Very informative!
Excellent video as usual
Nice video. Just saw them today. I live in Maryland. I almost missed it during my birding trip as it was so perfectly camouflaged. It was probing pretty intensely. No dance moves.
I haven't seen it but I hear it lol
A few are nesting in wet lands close to me
Weird call Erie in the foggy morning lol
So this must have been what I saw a couple of years ago. I was at a marshy area looking at birds and became aware of a sound coming from the sky. Could hardly see some high flying birds, even with binoculars. They were flying in an eratic fashion, their wings were constantly flapping as they went up and down and around. As they descended their wings made a whiring sound.
NA AMÉRICA LATINHA, É RARO, MUITO LINDO, CRIAÇÃO DIVINA. 😅 bauru sp 🇧🇷
I would have thought that a ground nesting bird such as this would be more vulnerable to predators such as cats and snakes too.
Their eyes 👍! Incredible.
The chicks : 2 olders leaving with dad, the youngers with mom and they never reunite 😲. Thank you for this wonderfully interesting specie.
WHY do hunters kill them 😠
I have seen them in open school forlds
60mph!
SNIPES ARE REAL!?
Their pectoral muscles are delicious.