Specie's Page                                               Common Snipe - Small Waders

Common Snipe:

UK Status: Resident, boosted by over wintering birds coming down from the north. There are about 80,000 breeding pairs in the UK. Numbers increase to about a million during the winter months.

Habitat: This bird likes low lying grassy wetland and marshy ground.

Breeding: Common Snipe lay a single clutch of four eggs during late March to early April. Nests are made on the ground, usually located on the ground at the base of reeds, or clumps of grass. Surrounding natural vegetation is used to build the nest, and these items are woven together to form a reasonably deep cup. Eggs are mid buff to olive green in colour, and are covered fairly densely with dark brown blotches and spots.

Comment: Common but it's habitat is declining, and that is of concern for the survival of this species in the UK, hence it's amber status.

BE AWARE PLEASE:  Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to having their eggs and chicks smashed or crushed. This can happen when people are unaware of their presence, or when dogs are allowed to run loose during the breeding season. Nests are very well hidden, and are not usually spotted until it's to late. Dogs often have no concern for ground nesting birds, please keep them on their leads from April through to the end of September.