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Snipe for Identification

on 12th March 2014

“We all know that field identification of snipe is not easy unless the tail is seen well in preening, especially for the Pintail and Swinhoe’s Snipes. The 3 migratory snipes to the Peninsula are the Pintail Snipe (Gallinago stenura), Swinhoe’s Snipe (Gallinago megala) and the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). There is a possibility that the Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) also transits the region. I recently posted some snipe on a local nature facebook that stimulated some wider discussion and Swinhoe’s and Latham’s Snipe were considered.

“I went back to same location, which is ‘snipe-ful’, to try and find the same bird but only saw it briefly. However I managed to get a longer observation of another snipe preening in the early morning (lighting not optimal and air quality poor). I took a few videos and about 350 images trying to capture that brief moments of rapid preening, always focusing on the tail.

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“Posting some images here for an opinion, mainly trying to focus on outer tail feathers while preening. [The top image shows a snipe photographed at Malim Nawar, Perak, Malaysia on 2nd March 2014 – a general overview of the bird at rest. The rest were also photographed at the same location showing the bird preening. Note that in the third image from the top, the tail feather peeping out is rather white suggesting Swinhoe’s and Latham’s Snipe but the last image suggests there are some pintail feathers.]

“A short video taken from the car as a hide here:

“Besides all the texts and guides I have looked up, consider these good posts: HERE, HERE (see tail feather paintings by Osao and Michiaki Ujihara) and HERE.

“[The images possibly show] a Pintail Snipe but value opinions. [Correction: It is generally agreed that it is a Common Snipe.]

“More images possible on request. None available in flight as I did not flush the bird.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2nd March 2014

Location: Malim Nawar Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive ex-tin mining area with pond/lakes, wetlands, fish farming.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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