Oklahoma Migratory Species Profile: Wilson's Snipe

Stocky and long-billed, Wilson's Snipe is darker than a dowitcher, crouches more, and there is a dark stripe through the eye with lighter stripes both above and below the dark one.  They also have a white belly, dark underwings, and barred flanks.

It feeds by jerky, vertical probing and can be very inconspicuous along grassy pond edges.  They usually fly fairly high above flooded stubble fields, then suddenly plunge down to land within cover.  Depending solely on wetlands and avoiding dense, tall vegetation, this migrant will winter in both sugarcane and rice fields.

Usually found rather far from a shoreline, the breeding-aged male will stand atop fenceposts or snags bleating for a mate.

This game bird is actually quite difficult to hunt as a normal game bird.  "Sniper" actually was coined regarding this species due to its furtive nature and camouflage.  This robust shorebird will actually zigzag away when flushed.  The eyes, which are set back on the head permit binocular vision to the rear as well as superb peripheral vision (to the sides).

                                                                     Wilson's Snipe
                                                         Sooner Lake Power Plant, 2015

Once known as the Common Snipe, which is actually a separate breed in the Old World, makes an interesting drumming sound during a rapid descent from great heights.  This is caused by the wind creating rapid movement when the outer tail feathers vibrate, and is part of the species' courtship display.  It is called winnowing, and can be part of the male's or the female's repertoire.  They both will also feign a broken wing to protect the nest site, like the Killdeer.

To actually differentiate between the European Common Snipe and Wilson's, is the fact that the common has a wide white trailing edge to the wings and seven pairs of tail feathers as opposed to eight on the Wilson's.

They usually feed around dusk and dawn, sleeping the better part of the day.  One of the strongest fliers despite their ungainly appearance, they cruise at a speed of around sixty miles per hour.

Many of these birds are killed during cell/radio/television tower, building, and lighthouse strikes.