Snipe - description, habitat, interesting facts

Snipe are included in the family of the same name, which has a large number of representatives, whose habitat are Russian latitudes. The bird is distinguished by miniature sizes. The body mass of this representative is just below 180 g. According to external signs, the bird is similar to a large variegated woodpecker.

Snipe is well recognizable. It can be easily identified by a long, narrow and sharp beak. In the structure of the anatomical structure of the beak is the most prominent element. Often its length is one third of the whole body. Short paws emphasize the asymmetry of the body. It is very difficult for a simple inhabitant to distinguish a female from a male. Only an experienced ornithologist can do this.

Habitats

These birds live where there is a temperate climate. This is usually Eurasia, but sometimes their presence can be observed on the island territory.

For wintering, the bird travels to warm countries, closer to the south of Europe. It reappears in middle latitudes only at the very beginning of summer. Sometimes arrives a little earlier. Very often the following oddities occur with the bird. In preparation for the heavy long flight, the bird seeks to gain weight by all means. Sometimes it is so successful in it that it becomes so heavy that it is simply not able to fly away. Then nothing remains to do, how to stay for the winter in their native lands.

Individual representatives can be found in North America. In the expanses of our country never seeks to fly far to the north, preferring to stay in the central latitudes. The favorite habitats are meadow swamplands. They prefer to be near fresh water, but there are cases when they can be found on the coast of the sea.

Intensive urbanization of territories has led to the fact that the number of snipe began to decline markedly. The fact is that there are a lot of hunters on this bird. It so happened that any hunter, having caught this bird, is full of pride. This is considered in their midst a great prestige.But catching it is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. The bird has got used to a cautious way of life and the marks with a shot can only be hit by a pure professional.

Nature of behavior

If someone scares the bird, the first thing it does is run away. Tall grass and viscous soil do not limit its agility at all, therefore, as a rule, the bird can easily escape. If for some reason the escape fails, then it just takes off. At the beginning of his flight he swings from side to side. Then comes the leveling and stabilization of flight.

Surprisingly, the fact that the bird does not know how to swim. This does not allow her to do the fact that there are no membranes on her paws. But she dives under the water perfectly. However, she successfully hunt.

Hunting is widespread in poultry in our country. This is due to the fact that such trophies have useful meat. But until August, it is impossible to hunt a bird, because during this period the reproduction of these feathered representatives occurs.

Nutrition

Snipe uses small insects, bugs, flies, spiders, their larvae to feed. It feeds on plant seeds only in exceptional cases. Very unusual is her hunt. To catch an insect, a bird thrusts its sharp beak into the ground. The victim is swallowed by a snipe right in the ground, without taking the beak out.

Breeding specifics

Even before returning to a permanent place, the males are already beginning to care for females. A pronounced specificity is characteristic of the marriage ritual. During this period, the males show real aerobatics in flight. When this happens, they publish characteristic sounds. Usually, before such cries, the male erects on the top of a tree. However, such sounds, he can easily publish and in flight.

Then a pair is formed and the period associated with nesting begins. In the role of the designer of the nest is the female.Under the bark or in a bump, the female pulls out a hole, and the bottom of it is lined with grass. Birds breed in the summer. At one time, the female is able to lay up to 4 eggs. Eggs look like an ellipse with a beige or brown tint. On the surface of the egg there are black blotches. The female eggs hatch over 20 days.

The nestling, not having time to hatch out, by all means tries to leave the nest. But his parents will accompany him until he learns to fly. But for this to take place at least another 20 days. When in danger, the male picks up the chick with its feet and continues its flight at a low altitude.

Hunting features

If the place of hunting are desiccants, then its beginning is early autumn. During this period, the bird can be found in the open, where these birds representatives flock in large quantities. If 2 or 3 people take part in the hunt, you can not take the dog with you. The hunter is always alert and shoots at the moment when the bird takes off.

In the fall, hunting is the most successful in nature, since by this time the bird had already gained enough body weight. Used small-shot cartridges. The catch during this period promises to be successful. If at some place the hunter met a bird, then it is recommended to walk through this area again, because the bird has a good ability to disguise.

Some unusual facts about snipe

This representative has a number of features, which will be very interesting to know:

1. In the past, a hunter who got a snipe from a gun was always called a very lucky man. It was very prestigious, and the one who managed to do this was called a true professional and master of hunting.This was only possible for very accurate marksmen, whom they dubbed snipers (from English snipe).
2. During mating games, the behavior of the male is associated with a somewhat unusual ritual. Having gained a decent height, he ceases to flap his wings and, as they say, a stone rushes down. With such behavior he renders signs of attention to the female, trying to attract her. But this fact would not be surprising if it were not for the sound, which is obtained from such a rapid fall. Wind blows wings. At the same time, a sound is formed that remotely resembles a goat's bleating. Such sounds are very protracted in nature.
3. Hatching eggs female. If any danger threatens, she presses to the ground as much as possible and as if merges with it. Due to the color of their feathers, it is quite difficult to notice. In this way, she protects herself and her future chicks.
4. Recently, the population of this bird has decreased dramatically. There were even moments when the existence of the species was under real threat. For this reason, the bird was listed in the Red Book.
5. The bird has many other names, one of which is “lamb”. So it is called hunters in their midst.And this name was given to her not by chance and due to the characteristic rattling sound that makes her tail move. This can be clearly heard in the mating season of birds.
6. If the snipe moves its wings very quickly, then the characteristic sounds are emitted. But in order to accomplish this, the frequency of wing flaps must be at least 11 times in one second.
7. For snipe ordinary is characterized by excellent vision. He sees very well even in the dark. Not every bird can boast such a unique ability. This ability is largely due to the presence of very large eyes.

Finishing the story about this bird, it should be said that this representative of the wild nature really has many unique abilities. At present, considerable efforts are being made to preserve and replenish the population of this species. I must say that the results of effort can already be felt.

Video: Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)