Greater Painted-Snipe – Natural Bird Sound
The greater painted-snipe is a species of wader in the family Rostratulidae.
Distribution: Africa, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, South Asia, Southeast Asia. It is common in low-altitude wetlands in Taiwan.
Medium-sized, plump wading bird. Long reddish-brown bill, slightly decurved at tip, and distinct white or pinkish eye patch. Rounded, buff-spotted wings and short tail. White of breast extends up around top of folded wing. The painted-snipe is not related to the true snipes and differs from them in habits, flight and appearance, being far more colorful and having longer legs than the snipes. It is unusual in that the female is larger and more brightly colored than the male, with the sides of the head, neck and throat a rich chestnut brown, and a distinct black band across the breast. The male is paler and greyer.
Not a vocal species; the male at times utters a shrill trill, while the female makes a guttural ook sound as well as hissing noises during breeding displays.
Usually found close to the fringes of reed beds along shorelines of marshes, swamps, ponds and streams.
They feed on insects, crustaceans, molluscs and seeds.
Solitary or in pairs, sometimes in groups of up to 12. Rather, shy and retiring, skulking close to the vegetation so that it can retreat to cover if disturbed. When flushed, flies like a rail with legs dangling. Bobs hindquarters on landing and sometimes when walking. Probes for food in the mud. The female initiates courtship and may mate with more than one male. The male incubates the eggs and takes the parental care.
The nest is usually a shallow scrape in soft ground, lined with plant material and situated among grass or reeds at the water’s edge; sometimes a pad of vegetation or a nest of grass and weeds. The breeding season is between April and July.
Video Source: 彩鷸/Greater Painted-Snipe from Chuenguey Hwang on Youtube ⁄ CC BY
