Scientific name: Gallinago media (Latham, 1787)
Bird group: Waders
Field characters. 28 cm. Like Common Snipe, but slightly larger and bulkier. Has a relatively larger head with shorter bill. General colouring like Common Snipe, but underside almost completely barred, upperwing coverts with broad white tips (in adult) and outer tail feathers with much white, though obscured with barring in juvenile. Does not have the harsh call of Common Snipe when flushed; generally stays lower without the zig-zagging flight of that species and quickly returns into cover. Almost never found in flocks.
Voice. A very silent species. When flushed sometimes a short grating call. Males very vocal on communal displaying arenas.
Distribution. A rare species, in general declining throughout its range, but may be locally common.
Habitat. During breeding season found in freshwater marshes and bogs, generally with sufficient cover of bushes and trees. On migration often found in much drier areas than Common Snipe. In winter found in marshes as well as in drier habitat.
Food. Invertebrates and some vegetable matter, as for Common Snipe.