Painted snipe
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 Greater Painted Snipe
Female (Rostralata benghalensis) |
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 Distribution of Greater Painted Snipe
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Painted snipe are three distinctive wader species placed together in their own family Rostratulidae. They are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but much more brightly coloured.
The female is brighter than the male and takes the lead in courtship. The male incubates the eggs, usually four, in a nest on the ground or floating for about 20 days.
All three species live in reedy swamps, and their diet consists of annelid worms and other invertebrates, which they find with their long bills.
[edit] Species of Painted Snipe
The Greater Painted Snipe (Rostralata benghalensis) is found in marshes in Africa, India and South-east Asia.
The Australian Painted Snipe (Rostratula australis) is a rare, nomadic and declining species found only in Australia (Lane & Rogers 2000)
The Lesser Painted Snipe ( Nycticryptes semicollaris), inhabits grassy marshland in southern South America.
[edit] External links
- Painted snipe videos on the Internet Bird Collection]
- Greater Painted Snipe
- Painted Snipe
[edit] References
- Lane, B.A.; & Rogers, D.I. (2000). The Australian Painted Snipe, Rostratula (benghalensis) australis: an Endangered species?. Stilt 36: 26-34
