African Snipe

Gallinago nigripennis Bonaparte, 1839

African Snipe, Gallinago nigripennis, is a snipe of subtropical to tropical wetlands in north-east, south-central and southern Africa. It was described by Bonaparte in 1839. In its breeding range it uses wet mountain moorland and swamps, and outside the breeding season it spreads more widely, reaching coastal lowlands. It is a stocky wader with relatively short legs, and its plumage is marked by strong dark streaking and gold-edged feather patterning on the upperparts, head and neck. The bill is pinkish-brown, very long, straight and fairly robust.

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Scolopacidae — Sandpipers, Snipes

Breeding range

Africa: subtropical to tropical wetlands of ne, sc, s Africa