Latham's Snipe

Overview

Latham's snipe (Gallinago hardwickii), also known as the Japanese snipe, is a medium-sized, migratory bird of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. It is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Medium-sized snipe measuring 29–33 cm in length with a wingspan of 50–54 cm and a weight of 150–230 g.
• Features cryptically-patterned plumage in black, brown, buff and white.
• Slightly larger than similar species such as Swinhoe's snipe and the pin-tailed snipe, making field identification difficult.
• Possesses a long bill typical of the Gallinago genus.

Habitat

The species breeds mainly in alpine moorland, grasslands, rough pasture, young tree plantations and cultivated areas in northern Japan, specifically Hokkaidō, with smaller numbers in Honshū and eastern Russia. During the non-breeding season, it inhabits shallow freshwater wetlands in eastern Australia, requiring bare mud or shallow water for feeding and nearby vegetation for shelter. It is a rare straggler to New Zealand and has been recorded on migration in Taiwan, the Philippines and New Guinea.

Diet

An omnivorous feeder that consumes seeds and plant material from families including Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Juncaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae and Fabaceae. It also preys on invertebrates such as insects (mainly flies and beetles), earthworms, spiders, molluscs, isopods and centipedes.

Did you know?

Despite the bird being named after John Latham, a prominent English ornithologist with a great interest in Australasian birds, he had no apparent connection with the snipe itself. The origin of the common name remains unclear.