The Wilson Snipe 



No. 234 



Wilson's Snipe 



A. O. U. No. 230. Capella gallinago delicata (Ord). 



Synonyms. — American Snipe. Jack-snipe. "English" Snipe. Bogsucker. 



Description. — Adult: Upperparts brownish black, freckled, mottled, barred, 

 and streaked with ochraceous-buff and whitish; crown and back nearly pure black, 

 the former divided by irregular buffy median line; the scapulars and inter-scapulars 

 bordered by whitish or cream-buff, on outer margins only; wings fuscous, the edge 

 including outer web of first primary, white; the greater coverts, secondaries, and 

 sometimes inner primaries narrowly tipped with white; a dark line from eye to bill; 

 throat whitish; sides of head and neck and breast ochraceous-buff, finely spotted and 

 streaked, or indistinctly barred with blackish; belly white, the axillars, sides, and 

 flanks strongly barred, — blackish and white; both tail-coverts and exposed tip of tail 

 strongly ochraceous-buff, or rufous, finely barred with black; tail-feathers black basally, 

 some of the lateral ones white or white-tipped. Bill and feet greenish gray, the former 

 tipped with dusky. Length 254-304.8 (10.00-12.00); wing 127 (5.00); tail 61 (2.40); 

 bill 63.5 (2.50); tarsus 31.8 (1.25). The female averages smaller than the male. 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; general mottled and streaked appearance; 

 long bill used as mud-probe; marsh-skulking habits, and jack, jack notes on rising. 



Nesting. — Nest: A grass-lined hollow in tussock of grass in marsh. Eggs: 4, 

 sharply pointed ovate; deep olive-buff, dark olive-buff, or, rarely, isabella color, spotted 

 and blotched, chiefly about larger end, with brownish black, light brownish olive, 

 and sepia (drab, if under shell). Av. size 38.1 x 27.9 (1.50 x 1.10) ; index 73.3. Season: 

 May or June; one brood. 



Range of Capella gallinago. — Northern Hemisphere. 



Range of C. g. delicata. — North and Middle America and northern South America. 

 Breeds from northern Alaska, northern Mackenzie, central Keewatin, and northern 

 Ungava, south to southern California, southern Colorado, northern Iowa and New 

 Jersey. Winters regularly from northern California, Arkansas, North Carolina, etc., 

 south to Colombia, British Guiana, and Brazil; sparingly to Washington, Montana, 

 Nova Scotia, etc. Accidental in Hawaii and Great Britain. 



Distribution in California. — Common migrant practically throughout the 

 State. Sparingly resident in winter in west-central and southern portions of State. 

 Breeds sparingly in favored sections, but chiefly east of the Sierras. Southernmost 

 recorded breeding station for the species, San Bernardino (Wall — several records). 



Authorities. — Newberry (Scolopax wilsonii), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. vi., 

 1857, p. 100; Cooke, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 35, 1910, p. 23 (distr. and 

 migr.); McAtee, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Circular no. 79, 191 1, pp. 1-9 (food); 

 Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer, Game Birds Calif., 1918, p. 350 (desc, occurrence, habits, 

 etc.) ; Evermann, Condor, vol. xxi., 1919, p. 121 (Lassen Co., desc. nest and eggs); Wall, 

 Condor, vol. xxi., 1919, p. 207 (San Bernardino; breeding habits). 



AS OFTEN as the word "snipe" is mentioned one thinks instantly of 

 this recluse of the inland fens, for he is the Snipe of America. In univer- 

 sality of distribution, during migrations at least, he is exceeded by no 



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