Species:

Quail (Coturnix coturnix)

Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
16-18
25-27
Wingspan (cm):
32-35
44-47
Weight (gram):
75-135
80-140
Size group:
Thrush-size
Thrush-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Seldom seen, often heard. Very small, compact bird with secretive behaviour. Heavily striated brown upperparts and paler belly. Males with black throat or black throat-band. Only the male shows different pale or rufous morphs. Appears long-winged when flying, with a straight and low line of flight.

Sound:

Song a very characteristic, short, tri-syllabic whistling, with each syllable ending with a sharp rise in pitch "weet weet-weet". The two last syllable linked together. Other sounds: A nasal disyllabic mewing "mau-au", and a wader-like rolling "wreee".

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

By far the most common snipe in most areas. Bill longer than congeners. Belly white, in contrast to barred flanks. Upperparts of wings with white trailing edge, underparts with white wingbars. Diagnostic escape flight when flushed, with zig-zag change of direction, characteristic call and long period of circling the area before landing (or leaving altogether).

Sound:

Quite vocal, especially at breeding ground. Almost always give diagnostic hoarse and nasal "kaaat" call when flushed. Song an unmistakable bleating, drumming sound produced by vibrating tail feathers in sky-dives. Another territorial call is a rhythmic, mechanical and sharp "tika-tika-tka", or "ika-ka-ka".

Display, flush:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Grouse-like
Silhouette
Waders
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file