common snipe
Gallinago gallinago
The common snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World, where it breeds in marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows. It is usually shy and well-camouflaged, foraging in soft mud mainly for insects and earthworms but also some plant material.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_snipe
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Gallinago
common snipe belongs to the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The common snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World, where it breeds in marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows. It is usually shy and well-camouflaged, foraging in soft mud mainly for insects and earthworms but also some plant material. During courtship, males perform a "winnowing" display; flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a "drumming" sound by vibrating the tail feathers.
The Common Snipe faces significant population declines across much of its range due to widespread wetland habitat loss and degradation from agricultural intensification, urban development, and drainage of marshlands. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and wetland hydrology, while hunting pressure in some regions continues to impact local populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits freshwater wetlands including marshes, bogs, wet meadows, muddy shores of lakes and rivers, and seasonally flooded grasslands with soft substrate suitable for probing. Requires areas with dense vegetation cover for nesting and open muddy areas for feeding on invertebrates.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Wetland habitat loss and drainage
Climate change impacts on wetland hydrology
Hunting pressure
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | VUVulnerable | VUVulnerable | Same |
| EU | VUVulnerable | VUVulnerable | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). common snipe (Gallinago gallinago). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-snipe