Above: Wilson’s Snipe near Whitemouth Falls, Manitoba, 13 May 2008; by Peter Taylor
How do I recognize it?
Wilson’s Snipe is a fairly small shorebird, recognized by its long bill, short legs, and intricate camouflage. Relying on this camouflage in marshy terrain, it sometimes sits tight until almost stepped on, then takes off with zigzag flight and harsh, scraping calls.
Above: Can you see the third one? Snipe camouflage near Coulter, Manitoba, 26 August 2005; by Peter Taylor
Does it migrate?
Broadly speaking, Wilson’s Snipe breeds in the northern half of North America, including every Canadian province and territory, and winters from the southern fringe of its breeding range to northern parts of South America. It is usually present in Manitoba from mid-April to late October.
Above: Late departure – a Wilson’s Snipe still present near Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba on 21 October 2006; by Peter Taylor
Where does it live?
Wilson’s Snipe breeds in wetland areas of all sizes, even in wet ditches, from the prairies to the low Arctic. Its abundance in a given area can vary greatly from year to year with fluctuating moisture levels. In common with other long-billed shorebirds, snipe can open their flexible bill tips while probing in moist soil, enabling them to grasp and ingest invertebrate prey such as earthworms.
Above: Perched precariously on a fence post near Broomhill, Manitoba, 29 May 2015; by Peter Taylor
Where can I see it?
A drive along back roads through tussocky marshland or wet, grassy areas in spring and early summer will often yield sightings of snipe. They sometimes perch conspicuously on fence posts or other elevated perches, where their loud chirping calls draw attention, along with the eerie sounds of their display flights (see below).
Above: This Wilson’s Snipe had just settled in a roadside ditch near Whitemouth, Manitoba, 14 June 2021; by Peter Taylor
Conservation Status:
Wilson’s Snipe is one of the few shorebird species that are still legally hunted in North America. Though subject to local fluctuations in numbers, and threatened by habitat loss through wetland drainage, overall numbers seem to be fairly stable and it is a species of only moderate conservation concern.
Above: The same bird, foraging in a roadside ditch near Whitemouth, Manitoba, 14 June 2021; by Peter Taylor
Did you know:
The strange “winnowing” sounds of displaying male snipe – somewhere between a whistle and a bleat – are made by spreading the tail feathers in flight and enabling them to vibrate in the passing air. Wilson’s Snipe is one of several look-alike species around the world, distinguished in part by different display sounds. This was the basis of a fairly recent taxonomic split of Wilson’s Snipe from its Eurasian counterpart, the Common Snipe.
Above: Common Snipe, looking very much like Wilson’s Snipe in the Camargue, France, 14 February 2005; by Peter Taylor
Written by: Peter Taylor