Montana Field Guide

Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata

The usual view of the Common Snipe is as it flushes from grass or sedges, escaping in rapid, zigzag flight while uttering a rasping "scaipe." It is a medium-sized sandpiper (length about 28cm, mass about 100 g), with long straight bill (about 6 cm). Sexually monomorphic plumage; no obvious seasonal or age differences. Crown striped with black and buffy, upperparts a mixture of brown, black, and gray, forming spots and barring; light colored spots tend to form 4 lines running down the back; tail appears russet. Underparts mostly white, but neck and breast heavily streaked or spotted with brown. (Mueller, Helmut, The Birds of North America, No. 417, 1999.)

Montana Range




Range Comments
Common Snipes breed throughout the state. Most wintering records are for western Montana (Skaar et al. 1985).

In Belgrade fall migration peaks were October 14 to 31 (1976, 1977). The Bozeman migration period was from March 25 to April 15, and from August 15 to October 20; no peaks were noted (Skaar 1969).

In the Bozeman area, summer birds are widely distributed in the valley in moist meadows. In winter, they occur along warm, bog-bordered streams in the valley (Skaar 1969). Breeds in sedge bogs, fens, willow and alder swamps, and marshy edges of ponds, rivers, and brooks. Requires soft organic soil rich in food organisms just below surface, with clumps of vegetation offering both cover and good view of approaching predators. Avoids marshes with tall, dense vegetation (cattails, reeds, etc.) (Mueller 1999).

Eats mostly larval insects, but also takes crustaceans, earthworms, and mollusks. Stomachs contain as much as 66% plant material, but probably little or no energy is obtained from plants (Mueller 1999).

Around Montana, the number of breeding pairs per 100 hectars ranged from 8 to 50. In 1976, 84% of the snipe harvest was in the Pacific flyway portion of the state, and this was felt to reflect the breeding density of snipes within the state.

Places nest on ground, well concealed in grass, sedge, or sphagnum moss. Sometimes overhung by willow, alder, or other brush. Eggs are ovate pyriform in shape and either dark, olive brown or pale olive brown in color with spots (Mueller 1999). In the Belgrade area the peak hatch was in the last week of May and the first 2 weeks of June. 95% of the nests were successful. Clutch size averages 4. Nest sites chosen had stands of Carex with residual vegetation. Nesting records are from May 14 to mid-June (Davis 1961).