Wilson's Snipe Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWilson's Snipe
Adult
Medium-sized pudgy shorebird with short, stocky legs. Intricately patterned with 3 long buffy streaks down the back and a striped head.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 25, 2019Adult male
Displaying males make a curious whistling noise (“winnowing”), created by air passing over modified outer tail feathers.
© Yann Kolbeinsson / Macaulay LibraryNorðurland eystra, May 20, 2016Adult
In breeding season, often perches on fence posts to sing.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 21, 2015Not all videos have sound
Adult
Medium-sized chunky shorebird with a long bill. Note white belly, barred flanks, and dark underwings.
© Douglas Gimler / Macaulay LibraryVermont, May 30, 2017Adult
Long-billed shorebird of inland wetlands. Usually found foraging on the ground, but also perches on posts or stumps.
© Caleb Strand / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, June 05, 2019Adult
Intricately patterned in buff and brown stripes and bars, which provide camouflage in muddy pond edges, damp fields, and other wet, open habitats.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 01, 2019Not all videos have sound
Adult (with Long-billed Dowitcher)
Smaller than a Long-billed Dowitcher (left) with shorter legs and a pudgier body. Note buffy streaks down the back and striped head.
© Ian Routley / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 22, 2017Adult
Pudgy shorebird with a long bill and short tail. Note barring on the sides and 3 buffy streaks down the back.
© Jeff Timmons / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, April 19, 2017Habitat
Found in muddy pond edges, damp fields, and other wet, open habitats often with thick, low vegetation where these well-camouflaged birds can quickly disappear.
© Maria Loukeris / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, March 12, 2017Similar SpeciesAmerican Woodcock
Adult
American Woodcocks have shorter legs than Wilson's Snipes. They have an unmarked cinnamon belly while Wilson's Snipes have barred flanks and a white belly.
© Mark Olivier / Macaulay LibraryOntario, April 30, 2016Similar SpeciesLong-billed Dowitcher
Juvenile
Long-billed Dowitchers have longer legs than Wilson's Snipes. They do not have long streaks down their back like Wilson's Snipes.
© David Turgeon / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, August 26, 2016Similar SpeciesLong-billed Dowitcher
Nonbreeding
Long-billed Dowitchers have longer legs than Wilson's Snipes and are often found foraging on mudflats away from vegetation while snipes forage more often in wetlands with low vegetation.
© Sean Fitzgerald / Macaulay LibraryArizona, September 25, 2016Similar SpeciesShort-billed Dowitcher
Breeding adult (hendersoni)
Short-billed Dowitchers have longer legs than Wilson's Snipes and are more often found foraging in open water areas unlike Wilson's Snipes, which forage in wetlands with low vegetation.
© Joshua Haas / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 14, 2016Similar SpeciesShort-billed Dowitcher
Nonbreeding adult
Short-billed Dowitchers have longer legs than Wilson's Snipes. They do not have long streaks down their back like Wilson's Snipes.
© Tom Edell / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 30, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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