Similar Species for Wilson's Snipe
Similar Species
American 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 Species
Long-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 Species
Long-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 Species
Short-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 Species
Short-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, 2016Main Species
Wilson'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
Round-bodied shorebird of wet fields. In breeding season, often perches on fence posts to call.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 21, 2015Adult
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 (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, 2017