Gallinago

Taxobox
name = " Gallinago "


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Common Snipe
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Scolopacidae
genus = " Gallinago "
genus_authority = Brisson, 1760
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = "see text"

"Gallinago" is a genus of birds in the wader family Scolopacidae. These snipe are all similar, with a very long slender bill and cryptic plumage. Most have distinctive displays, usually given at dawn or dusk. They search for invertebrates in the mud with a "sewing-machine" action of their long bills.

pecies in taxonomic order

* Solitary Snipe, "Gallinago solitaria"
* Latham's Snipe, "Gallinago hardwickii"
* Wood Snipe, "Gallinago nemoricola"
* Pintail Snipe, "Gallinago stenura"
* Swinhoe's Snipe, "Gallinago megala"
* African Snipe, "Gallinago nigripennis"
* Madagascar Snipe, "Gallinago macrodactyla"
* Great Snipe, "Gallinago media"
* Common Snipe, "Gallinago gallinago"
* Wilson's Snipe, "Gallinago delicata"
* South American Snipe, "Gallinago paraguaiae"
* Noble Snipe, "Gallinago nobilis"
* Giant Snipe, "Gallinago undulata"
* Fuegian Snipe, "Gallinago stricklandii"
* Andean Snipe, "Gallinago jamesoni"
* Imperial Snipe, "Gallinago imperialis"

Fossil bones of some undescribed "Gallinago" species most similar to the Great Snipe have been recovered in Late Miocene or Early Pliocene deposits (c. 5 mya) of Lee Creek Mine, USA.

References

* Hayman, Marchant and Prater, "Shorebirds" ISBN 0-7099-2034-2