Imperial Snipe
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The imperial snipe (''Gallinago imperialis'') is a small stocky
wader 245px, A flock of Dunlins and Red knots">Red_knot.html" ;"title="Dunlins and Red knot">Dunlins and Red knots Waders or shorebirds are birds of the order Charadriiformes commonly found wikt:wade#Etymology 1, wading along shorelines and mudflat ...
which breeds in the
Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
. For a century it was known only from two specimens collected near Bogotá, Colombia, and was presumed extinct, but it was rediscovered in
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
in 1967 and
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...
in 1988. It is not known if it is migratory.


Description

This long
snipe A snipe is any of about 26 wading bird species in three genera in the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and cryptic/ camouflaging plumage. The ''Gallinago'' snipes have a ...
has a stocky body and relatively short legs for a wader. Its adult plumage is dark rufous brown except for the lower belly and undertail, which are white with heavy brown barring. The grey bill is long, straight and fairly robust, and the legs and feet are grey. The sexes are similar. The juvenile plumage is unknown, but in most snipes species, young birds differ from adults only in showing pale fringes on the wing coverts. In flight, the imperial snipe looks heavy, broad-winged and short-tailed, and the banded belly contrasts with the dark breast and underwing. It has a shatteringly loud raucous song in its display flight, starting with single notes and moving on to double or triple notes. Compared with other snipes with an overlapping range, the imperial snipe is obviously larger than the Magellan snipe, which has clear pale stripes on its back and lacks barring on the lower belly. The race which occurs in the Andes, ''Gallinago paraguaiae andina'' also has yellow legs. The Andean snipe, ''Gallinago jamesoni'', is similar in build to the imperial snipe, but is paler on the throat and underwings, and has a less contrasted lower belly.


Behaviour

The imperial snipe occurs around the tree-line at altitude in mosaic habitats consisting of a mixture of bogs, mossy areas, moist elfin forest, tree-ferns and tall grass. Little is known about its habits and it is mostly observed when displaying. The dawn and dusk aerial display involves flying high in circles performing the extremely loud song. This is followed by a dive during which the bird makes a
drumming Drumming may refer to: * the act of playing the drums or other percussion instruments * Drummer, a musician who plays a drum, drum kit, or drums * ''Drumming'' (Reich), a musical composition written by Steve Reich in 1971 for percussion ensemble ...
sound caused by the vibrations of its modified outer tail feathers. The imperial snipe's diet is unknown, but other snipe species forage for insects and worms by probing with their long bills.


Status

Having been considered extinct for over half a century, the imperial snipe has now been found at least six sites in Peru and twelve in Ecuador. Although it appears widespread on both east and west slopes in Ecuador and the east slope in Peru, it apparently occurs at very low densities (4-5 displaying within of suitable ridge-top habitat)Terborgh, J. and Weske, J. S. (1972) Rediscovery of the Imperial Snipe in Peru. Auk 89: 497-505. and known populations are small and localised. This snipe's habitat has been adversely affected by burning, grazing and conversion of páramo to agriculture. However, if the number of records and known sites continue to increase, the status of this species may be reclassified to Least Concern.


References


BirdLife International
*Hayman, Marchant and Prater, ''Shorebirds'' {{Taxonbar, from=Q1268088 imperial snipe Birds of the Ecuadorian Andes Birds of the Peruvian Andes imperial snipe imperial snipe imperial snipe