Latham's Snipe

Latham's snipe, Gallinago hardwickii, is a medium-sized, long-billed bird, a migratory species that graces the East Asian–Australasian Flyway with its presence. It measures 29–33 cm in length, boasts a wingspan of 50–54 cm, and tips the scales at a modest 150–230 grams.

Identification Tips

This cryptically-patterned bird is adorned with a mosaic of black, brown, buff, and white plumage, a characteristic of the Gallinago genus. While in the field, it can be a challenge to distinguish from its close relatives, Swinhoe's and pin-tailed snipe, though it is marginally larger.

Habitat

During the breeding season, Latham's snipe selects alpine moorland, grasslands, rough pasture, young tree plantations, and cultivated areas in Hokkaidō, northern Japan, with smaller populations in Honshū, the eastern Russian mainland, Sakhalin, and historically, the Kurile Islands. In contrast, its non-breeding habitat in Australia encompasses shallow freshwater wetlands, offering both feeding grounds with bare mud or shallow water and vegetation cover for shelter.

Distribution

The snipe breeds mainly in Hokkaidō and spends the non-breeding season primarily in eastern Australia, where it is the most common Gallinago snipe. It has been observed on migration in Taiwan, the Philippines, and New Guinea, and is a rare visitor to New Zealand.

Behaviour

The males engage in captivating display flights and drumming as part of their courtship rituals. Nesting occurs on the ground, hidden amidst vegetation, with a typical clutch comprising four eggs.

Feeding

An omnivorous feeder, Latham's snipe partakes in a diet that includes seeds and plant material from families such as Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Juncaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Fabaceae. It also consumes a variety of invertebrates, including insects (mainly flies and beetles), earthworms, spiders, and on occasion, molluscs, isopods, and centipedes.

Status and Conservation

Globally, the species is considered near threatened. In Australia, where it was once hunted as a gamebird, it now enjoys full protection and is listed as Vulnerable under the Australian EPBC Act, following an assessment in 2020. Additionally, it is recognized as "rare" under South Australia's National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.