Snipe - description, habitat, interesting facts

Snipe are part of the family of the same name, with a large number of representatives, whose habitat are Russian latitudes. The bird is distinguished by its miniature size. The body weight of this representative barely reaches 180 g. By external signs, the bird is similar to a large speckled woodpecker.

Snipe is well recognized. It can be easily identified by its long, narrow and sharp beak. In the structure of the anatomical structure, the beak is the most noticeable element. Often its length is one third of the whole body. Short paws emphasize the asymmetry of the body. It is very difficult for a simple layman to distinguish a female from a male. Only an experienced ornithologist can do this.

Habitat

These birds live where a temperate climate is present. Usually it is Eurasia, but sometimes their presence can be observed on the island territory.

For the winter, the bird goes to warmer climes, closer to the south of Europe. It reappears in mid-latitudes only at the very beginning of summer. Sometimes it arrives a little earlier. Very often the following funny things happen to the bird. Preparing for a difficult long flight, the bird in every possible way seeks to gain body weight. Sometimes she succeeds in this so much that she becomes so heavy that she is simply not able to fly away. Then there is nothing left to do but stay for the winter in their native lands.

Individual representatives can be found in North America. In the vastness of our country, she never seeks to fly far to the north, preferring to stay in the central latitudes. Favorite habitats are meadow marshlands. They prefer to be near fresh water, but there are cases when they can be found on the coast of the sea.

Intensive urbanization of the territories led to the fact that the number of snipe began to decline markedly. The fact is that there are many hunters on this bird. It just so happened that any hunter, catching this bird, is full of pride. This is considered in their midst a great prestige. But catching her is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. The bird is accustomed to a cautious lifestyle, and only a pure professional can hit it with a shot.

Behavior pattern

If someone scared a bird, the first thing it does is run away. Tall grass and viscous soil do not limit its agility at all, therefore, as a rule, the bird manages to escape easily. If for some reason it is not possible to escape, then it just takes off. At the beginning of its flight, it sways from side to side. Then comes the leveling and stabilization of the flight.

Surprisingly, the fact that the bird does not know how to swim at all. This does not allow her to do the fact that she does not have membranes on her paws. But she dives under the water perfectly. With this, she successfully hunts.

Bird hunting is widespread in our country. This is due to the fact that such trophies have useful meat. But until August you can’t hunt a bird, because during this period there is a reproduction of these feathered representatives.

Food

For its nutrition, snipe uses small insects, bugs, flies, spiders, their larvae. It feeds on plant seeds only in exceptional cases.Her hunt is very unusual. To catch an insect the bird sticks its sharp beak into the ground. The victim is swallowed by a snipe right in the ground, without taking its beak out.

Breeding specificity

Even before returning to a permanent place, males already begin to care for females. Marital ritual is characterized by pronounced specificity. During this period, males show real aerobatics in flight. In this case, they publish characteristic sounds. Usually, before such screams, the male is hoisted on top of a tree. However, he can easily make such sounds in flight.

Then a pair is formed and the period associated with nesting begins. The female acts as a nest designer. Under a snag or in a bump, a female tears a hole, and her bottom is lined with grass. Birds breed in the summer. At one time, the female is able to lay up to 4 eggs. The eggs look like an ellipse with a beige or brown tint. On the surface of the egg there are black blotches. The female eggs hatch for 20 days.

The chick, not having time to hatch, is trying by all means to leave the nest. But his parents will accompany him until he learns to fly. But for this, at least 20 more days must pass. In case of danger, the male picks up the chick with his feet and continues his flight at low altitude.

Hunting Features

If the place of hunting is rashes, then its beginning is early autumn. During this period, the bird can be found in the open area, where these feathered representatives massively flock. If 2 or 3 people participate in the hunt, then you can not take the dog with you. The hunter is always on the alert and shoots at the moment when the bird takes off.

In autumn, hunting is the most successful in nature, since by this time the bird has already gained sufficient body weight. Fine shot cartridges are used. The catch during this period promises to be successful. If at some place the hunter met a bird, then it is recommended to walk through this territory again, since the bird has a good ability to disguise.

Some unusual facts related to snipe

This representative has a number of features that will be very interesting to learn about:

1. In the past, a hunter who hit a snipe from a gun was always called a very lucky person. It was very prestigious, and the one who managed to do it was called a real professional and master of hunting. This was only possible for very well-aimed shooters, who were dubbed snipers (from the English snipe).
2. During mating games, the male’s behavior is associated with a somewhat unusual ritual. Having gained a decent height, he ceases to flap his wings and, as they say, a stone rushes down. By this behavior, he gives attention to the female, trying to attract her. But there would be nothing surprising in this fact, if not for the sound that is produced with such a rapid fall. The wind is blowing its wings. At the same time, a sound is formed that remotely resembles the bleating of a goat. Such sounds are very long in nature.
3. Female hatches eggs. If there is any danger, it is pressed to the ground as much as possible and as if merges with it. Thanks to the color of its feathers, it is quite difficult to notice it. In this way, she protects herself and her future chicks.
4. Recently, the population of this bird has dramatically decreased. There were even moments when the existence of the species was in real danger. For this reason, the bird was listed in the Red Book.
5. The bird has many other names, one of which is the “lamb”. This is what hunters call it in their midst. And such a name was not given to her by chance and was due to the characteristic rattling sound that makes the movements of her tail. This can be clearly heard in the mating season of birds.
6. If a wing snipe performs very quickly, then characteristic sounds are produced. But in order to accomplish this, the frequency of the flapping of the wings must be at least 11 times in one second.
7. An ordinary snipe is characterized by excellent vision. He sees very well even in the dark. Not every bird can boast such a unique ability. This ability is largely due to the presence of very large eyes.

Concluding the story about this bird, it should be said that this representative of wildlife really has many unique abilities. Considerable efforts are being made to preserve and replenish the population of this species. I must say that the results of efforts can already be felt.

Video: snipe (Gallinago gallinago)