African Snipe
Gallinago nigripennis
Marshes. Very long, straight black bill. Head, breast and upperparts buff; heavily streaked and spotted dark brown, lower breast to belly white; flanks barred dark brown.
Allies, Plovers, Snipes
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. Differs from [Great Snipe] in whiter underparts, extraordinarily long bill, and distinctive flight behaviour: when flushed takes off with a sucking ‘chuck’ call and zigzags at low level before resettling. In breeding display the male flies high, then zooms down steeply with fanned tail feathers vibrating to make a soft whinnying sound known as drumming. Occurs singly or in pairs in marshy localities.
Quick Facts
Size
32 cm - M
Names
A: Afrikaanse Snip
Z: unununde
Ss: Motjodi-Matsana
G: Afrikanische Bekassine
Bird Family
Terrestrial and waterside birds. Large plovers are long-legged and stand erect; small plovers and most shorebirds hold their bodies horizontally, postures hunched.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs singly or in pairs in marshy localities.
