Solitary Snipe

Gallinago solitaria (Hodgson, 1831)

		adult chick
2007-01-09 Ozerny chine, Ile-Alatau National Park 2004-06-27 West Altay	© Askar Isabekov © Oleg Belyalov

Distribution

Breeds on Western Altai at Ridder area, in Markakol lake area only the summer records are known. Wintering in mountains and on nearby plains of Altai and Tien Shan, in west to Semipalatinsk and Tashkent. One bird was recorded September 3 1986 in lower of Sarysu river. Singles recorded November 23 1974, September 28 1974, February 19 1975 and November 11 1977 in highlands of Zailiyskiy Alatau ridge (Bolshoye Almatinskoye lake).

Biology

Rare resident. Inhabits the cedar larch light forest with low grass, fallen needles and boulders near streams or small lakes, on altitudes 1900-2400 m. On dispersal and wintering occurs on shore of unfrozen rivers and streams. Leaves the wintering areas in March – April. Laying of 4 eggs is in early July, but probably also in early June, as the brood of two juveniles ready to be fledged observed in June 30 1973. Dispersal begins in late July, and on low altitudes and in plains Solitary Snipes recorded in August to mid-October.

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.