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Key information
Snipe are medium sized, skulking wading birds with short legs and long straight bills. Both sexes are mottled brown above, with paler buff stripes on the back, dark streaks on the chest and pale under parts. They are widespread as a breeding species in the UK, with particularly high densities on northern uplands but lower numbers in southern lowlands (especially south west England). In winter, birds from northern Europe join resident birds.
The UK population of snipe has undergone moderate declines overall in the past twenty-five years, with particularly steep declines in lowland wet grassland, making it an Amber List species.
What they eat:
Small invertebrates, including worms and insect larvae.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 23-28cm
- Wingspan:
- 39-45cm
- Weight:
- 80-120g
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 80,000 pairs
- UK wintering:
- 1 million birds
Identifying features:
Snipe
