Common Snipe
Scientific Name: Gallinago gallinagoMaltese Name: Bekkacc
Family: Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae)
Occurence: Regular Migrant
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
Snipes 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.
Their long bills enable them to easily forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material. This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. In the old days, a hunter able to kill a Snipe in flight was considered a very good one. This is why a soldier with the ability to shoot and hit at a very long range is called a Sniper.
The male performs "winnowing" display during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a distinctive sound with its tail feathers.
Status:
A fairly common wader in migration, mostly in singles, although sometimes seen in flocks during migration. Sometimes a couple of Common Snipes winter at Ghadira or Simar Nature Reserves.
When to See:
From September till early May, mostly seen in March, April, October and November during migration.
Where to See:
Mostly seen at Simar and Ghadira Nature Reserves. Other vallyes with cover such as Ghajn Rihana ar good places to see Snipe. During migration may be seen flying over from anywhere.
Photographs:
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| Common Snipe, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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| Common Snipe, Simar Nature Reserve | Closer view of Common Snipe, Simar Nature Reserve |
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