adult

adult in flight European distribution on ground

Identification

The Jack Snipe is an extremely difficult bird to see, partly because they are not very common but mostly because they are so well-camouflaged they will often sit unnoticed and let you walk past them. Even if you flush one you'll get only a brief view, as they characteristically dive down again without flying far. In that brief glimpse you must judge their size and shape (smaller than a Snipe with a shorter bill, shorter tail and shorter wings) and their plumage with more strikingly golden stripes but a minimal pale trailing edge to the wing. If you know where a Jack Snipe is sitting you should get exceptional views, good enough to see the short bill and tail, the longer more contrasting golden back stripes and the different head pattern with an extra black stripe across the eyebrow and with black stripes meeting at the ear coverts.

Habitat

Breeds on peat bogs and marshes. Winters on freshwater marshes and saltmarshes.

Behaviour

During their displays they produce the deep 'galloping horseman' calls and perform a deeply undulating flight about 20-50 metres above the marsh. Occasionally a second bird will fly up to join him from below and the two will then dive steeply down to the marsh together.

Migration

Up to half of the European breeding population winters from north-west Europe to the Iberian Peninsula. The other half winters largely in Africa.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Jack Snipe is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincs 11/05/2010	Cresswell Pond, Northumbs 20/04/2010	Cresswell Pond, Northumbs 20/04/2010	Cresswell Pond, Northumbs 20/04/2010	Cresswell Pond, Northumbs 20/04/2010
Rutland Wtr, Leics 17/04/2010	E.Hyde, Beds 15/03/2010	E.Hyde, Beds 15/03/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 20/03/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 20/03/2010

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Jack Snipe breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Belarus
Estonia
Finland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Russia
Sweden

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	Cryptic challenge: Jack Snipe	Tuesday 24th October 2006
	Not the rarest of passage and wintering birds, but exceptionally difficult to see, Jack Snipe are a 'bogey bird' for many. An enigmatic dweller of damp wetland areas, this is a species that is easy to overlook. Find out more about this beautifully cryptic snipe.

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