Imperial Snipe
VU

Imperial Snipe

Gallinago imperialis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_snipe

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Imperial Snipe faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its high-altitude Andean wetland environments. Agricultural expansion and livestock grazing have reduced the quality of its specialized bog and marsh habitats, while climate change threatens to alter the hydrological patterns essential for maintaining these fragile ecosystems. Mining activities in some regions further fragment and pollute the pristine wetlands this species requires for feeding and breeding.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Imperial Snipe inhabits high-altitude Andean wetlands, particularly boggy areas, marshes, and wet grasslands between 3,000-4,500 meters elevation. It shows a strong preference for areas with soft, muddy substrates rich in invertebrates, often near streams or in seasonally flooded grasslands.

Other threatened species in Scolopacidae

Slender-billed CurlewCR

Slender-billed Curlew

Numenius tenuirostris

Unknown
Eurasian CurlewVU

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Unknown
redshank, common redshankVU

redshank, common redshank

Tringa totanus

Unknown
EN

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Imperial Snipe classified as Vulnerable?
Imperial Snipe is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Imperial Snipe faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its high-altitude Andean wetland environments. Agricultural expansion and livestock grazing have reduced the quality of its specialized bog and marsh habitats, while climate change threatens to alter the hydrological patterns essential for maintaining these fragile ecosystems. Mining activities in some regions further fragment and pollute the pristine wetlands this species requires for feeding and breeding.
Where does Imperial Snipe live?
Imperial Snipe occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Imperial Snipe?
The main threats to Imperial Snipe are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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