Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus, 1758)

2011-04-09 Sorbulak lakes, Almaty oblast	© Gennadiy Dyakin

Distribution

Breeds in middle current of Ural valley, on Ilek and Irtysh rivers, in Southern Altai and Kalbinskiy Altai, in Zaysan depression and Chiliktinskaya valley, in Dzhungarskiy Alatau, in Tien Shan and on plains adjacent to mountains up to Ile delta. On migration occurs everywhere. In small numbers winters in Ile valley, near Almaty, in Chimkent area and further in south.

Biology

Common breeding migrant, but numerous on migration everywhere. Inhabits the marshes and wet meadows with shrubs and tussocks. On migration occurs on grassy shores of lakes and rivers, in reed beds. In spring appears in mid-March – early April in small groups or in flocks of up to 25 birds. Latest migrants observed in early May, but to northern areas and in mountains arrives in the end of April. On the territory of displaying male the female builds the nest in shallow hole on the ground or hummock and lined it with the dry grass. Laying of 4 eggs is in April – mid June, but in early July the late laying (probably repeated) were recorded. Alone female incubates and cares the nestlings. Juveniles are born in May and begin to fly in mid-June – July. Autumn migration is from July, intensive traffic of migration is observed in August – September, latest birds recorded in end October – early November.

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.