The common snipe

A common snipe is seen at Futian Mangrove Ecological Park. Photos by Isaac Cohen

The common snipe

One of the most elusive visitors to Shenzhen during the migration period is the fascinating common snipe (Gallinago gallinago). The bird’s visitor numbers are sadly not as high as other species, making it even more difficult to observe them when they arrive.

在造访深圳的冬候鸟中，扇尾沙锥数量不多，还常常东躲西藏，所以难得一见。

A common snipe is seen at Futian Mangrove Ecological Park.

The common snipe is a 25-centimeter-long bird with an average 45-centimeter wingspan. It has striking patterns and a long beak. The animal’s belly is white but mottled, while the rest of the body is covered by streaks of light brown, dark brown, and white feathers. The crown is dark brown with a white line crossing the head from the bill, and the face is marked by a beautiful pattern of stripes created by the insertion of alternating light and dark feathers. The wings are pointy and very visible when the bird is in flight. Its pointed tail wobbles while the bird forages for food.

扇尾沙锥身长25厘米，平均翼展45厘米，外形独特，极易辨识：喙甚长，腹部为斑驳的污白色，体色深浅棕夹杂，具白色纵纹，头、喙基部之间由白色纵纹相连；面部亦具不甚明显的黑褐色纵纹；尾部尖，飞行时易辨识，觅食时常上下摆动。

A common snipe is seen at Futian Mangrove Ecological Park.

This unique migratory bird has a strong preference for marshes and wetlands, where they forage for insect larvae, spiders, mollusks and small crustaceans by sticking their long bills into the soft soil, following a fascinating and almost rhythmic pattern of movements.

扇尾沙锥只栖息于沼泽湿地，以昆虫幼虫、蜘蛛、软体及甲壳类动物为食，靠触觉觅食，常将喙部插进淤泥中有规律地上下凿动，以攫取猎物。

Their breeding season usually falls in the springtime when males arrive first during the migration period and wait for females. A female snipe lays up to four eggs per clutch over a nest she aloneconstructs. She also takes sole responsibility for incubating the eggs for about three weeks.

扇尾沙锥春季迁往繁殖地，通常雄性会比雌性先抵达。交配后雌鸟单独寻址筑巢、产卵并孵化，每窝产卵最多4枚，孵化期长达3周。

A common snipe is seen at Futian Mangrove Ecological Park.

These birds are astonishing and a favorite among wildlife photographers and birdwatchers. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if their numbers were higher in our city? Let’s play our role in conserving more habitats where this and other migratory species can arrive and feel comfortable during their long trips.

扇尾沙锥是“鸟友”追捧热拍的“明星鸟”。如果每年能有更多的沙锥来到深圳越冬，岂不美哉？因此我们更要保护好它们的越冬地，为这些远道而来的客人接风洗尘。