Birds · Charadriiformes · Scolopacidae

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

In its display flight the male dives and the outer feathers of its tail vibrate in the airflow, producing a bleating sound that has earned it the nickname of flying goat in several languages.

Weight

80 g – 180 g

Size

25 cm – 27 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

TundraFreshwaterCarnivore Crepuscular Solitary Bird Tundra Freshwater

46countries 37parks13same family

Fun facts

The vibration of its tail feathers in the display flight makes a bleating sound that has earned it the nickname of flying goat.
It probes the mud for food with its head buried in the ground.
One documented bird reached 18.2 years.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows of Europe and Asia, wintering in warmer country as far as central Africa
Birth weight: 11 grams
Size at birth: Precocial, covered in reddish down with black and white markings, able to feed itself though accompanied by its parents
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years
Gestation / incubation: 18-21 days
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs per clutch

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; Birda; Birds Wiki Fandom; Animalia.bio; Avibase; Animal Diversity Web (Wilson's snipe comparativo)