Wilson’s Snipe are abundant but elusive shorebirds. We finally began seeing them at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on 29 October 2019. Snipe breed across Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. They winter across most of the United States south into northern South America. Here in western Washington, and elsewhere in the northwestern United States, the species can be found all year. It is a little strange that it took Erika and me so long to photograph one.
The word “snipe” come from “snite,” which means “snout,” referring to the bird’s long bill (Mueller 1999). As in other shorebirds, the tip of the beak has sensory pits for the birds to detect submerged invertebrates. Snipe eyes are set relatively far back on the head, allowing for binocular rear vision while the bird has its bill buried in the mud.
The word “snipe” come from “snite,” which means “snout,” referring to the bird’s long bill (Mueller 1999). As in other shorebirds, the tip of the beak has sensory pits for the birds to detect submerged invertebrates. Snipe eyes are set relatively far back on the head, allowing for binocular rear vision while the bird has its bill buried in the mud.
No comments:
Post a Comment