Puna Snipe

Overview

The puna snipe (Gallinago andina) is a bird in the family Scolopacidae, native to the puna grassland zone of the Andes. It is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a fairly large range and a stable population.

Identification

• Length of 22.5 to 25 cm with a weight of 65 to 105 g.
• Upperparts feature a complex pattern of muted whitish, buffy, rufous, black, and brown, with white trailing edges visible on the wings in flight.
• Underparts have buff breasts and flanks with black markings, white lower parts, and a white face distinguished by a bold brown stripe through the eye.
• The flight call is a sharp, dry 'chep chep chep' or 'dzeetch', while the non-vocal winnowing display produces a long, stuttering whoosh.

Habitat

Found in the puna grassland zone of the Andes, specifically in Peru, northern Chile, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. It favours damp to wet landscapes, including boggy rivers, cushion plant bogs, and the reedy edges of ponds and lakes, typically between 2,000 and 5,000 m in elevation.

Diet

Specific diet and feeding behaviour have not been studied but are assumed to be similar to other South American Gallinago snipes, which forage for insect larvae and earthworms by probing mud and wet soil.

Did you know?

The male performs a winnowing display during courtship by flying high in circles and taking shallow dives to produce a distinctive non-vocal sound described as a long, stuttering whoosh.