Lymnocryptes minimus
Jack Snipe
The Jack Snipe is a small, stocky wader with cryptic plumage. Its upper parts are predominantly dark brown with buff and black streaks, creating excellent camouflage.
The bird has a distinctive long, straight bill and relatively short, greenish legs. It has a dark brown head, with pale lines above the eyes, punctuated by a thin dark brown 'eyebrow'.
Both sexes look similar, with no significant seasonal changes in plumage. Juveniles closely resemble adults but may have slightly fresher-looking feathers with more distinct pale fringes.
Length
17cm to 19cm
Wingspan
30cm to 36cm
Weight
33g to 73g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown Black
Secondary Colour
Buff White
Beak Colour
Brown
Leg Colour
Green
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Jack Snipes breed in the boreal and subarctic zones of northern Europe and Asia, favouring boggy areas with low vegetation. During winter, they migrate to temperate regions, including parts of western Europe, the Mediterranean, and northern Africa.
In the UK, Jack Snipes are winter visitors, found in wetlands, marshes, and flooded fields from October to March. They are less common than the larger Common Snipe but can be found in similar habitats.
Up to 1,000 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
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Jack Snipes feed primarily on small invertebrates found in mud and shallow water. Their diet includes insects, worms, small molluscs, and crustaceans. As well as insects and other invertebrates, plant material forms an important share of their food intake.
They use their long, sensitive bill to probe the soft ground, employing a distinctive 'sewing machine' motion to detect and capture prey.
Jack snipes are crepuscular, feeding at dusk after resting during daylight. Night-time hunting is not uncommon, and they are thought to rely on bright moonlight to aid their nocturnal foraging.
Jack Snipes are known for their remarkable 'bobbing' behaviour, where they rhythmically bounce up and down while feeding. They are solitary birds, typically seen alone or in small, loose groups during migration.
When flushed, they fly in a characteristic zigzag pattern, usually flying only a short distance before dropping back into cover.
Jack Snipes are generally silent birds, especially outside their breeding grounds.
During the breeding season, males produce a distinctive sound during display flights, described as a repeated 'galloping' or 'ticking' noise. This sound, produced by vibrating tail feathers, is often likened to a distant horse's hooves: 'tup-tup-tup-tup'.
Jack Snipes breed in the far north, with the breeding season typically lasting from May to July. Males perform aerial displays to attract females, flying in wide circles and producing a distinctive drumming sound with their tail feathers.
The nest is a shallow depression on the ground, usually well-hidden in dense vegetation. Females typically lay 4 eggs, which are olive-brown with dark spots.
Incubation lasts about 24 days, primarily carried out by the female. Chicks are precocial and can leave the nest shortly after hatching, fledging after about 3 weeks.
years
The Jack Snipe typically lives for 3 to 5 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
While the Jack Snipe is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss due to drainage of wetlands and changes in land use. Climate change may also impact its breeding and wintering grounds. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and managing suitable wetland habitats.
Jacksnipe
Jack Snipes are preyed upon by various raptors, including harriers, falcons, and owls. Mammals such as foxes and mustelids may also hunt them, especially during the breeding season.
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Bobbing is a fascinating behaviour trait seen in jack snipes, and their springy, bouncing movements are thought to disturb invertebrates living beneath the ground, causing them to rise to the surface, making them easier to catch and eat.
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Lymnocryptes minimus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22693133A86640472.
View sourcereport, 2015: Wetlands International