Wilson's Snipe

Description: One of the most abundant and widespread shorebirds in North America, Wilson’s snipe is a stocky, roundish bird with a long bill that grows darker in color toward the tip. It’s a mottled dark-and-light brown with dark stripes on the head and cheeks running from front to back. The belly is white, and there are hints of rust in the tail. Both sexes are similar, although females are slightly larger and have slightly longer bills. Average size: 10-11 inches. Average weight: 3 ½-5 ounces.

Science: These birds breed in the northern half of the United States and in almost all of Canada and Alaska. They begin their migration in August and winter in the southern United States, the far western United States, the west coast of Canada, and Alaska and Mexico. They eat insects, earthworms, mollusks, and other invertebrates, using their long bills to probe into soft dirt, mud, and shallow pools. They form small groups in the winter and larger groups for migration. The population is stable due to their adaptability.

Hunting: Most snipe are taken incidentally by hunters seeking other game, but occasionally hunters head out on the famed “snipe hunt.” The best technique is to walk along flooded fields, ditches, and marsh areas. Snipe are commonly seen by duck hunters in and around marsh areas. The eating quality is fair: the meat is dark and strong.