Gallinago media

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CHARADRIIFORMES	SCOLOPACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Gallinago media

Species Authority:

(Latham, 1787)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Great Snipe
French	–	Bécassine double

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Taylor, J., Butchart, S., Pople, R., Burfield, I.

Contributor/s:

Kålås, J., Baha El Din, S., Ash, J., Ekblom, R., Hall, P., Morozov, V.

Justification:
This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is thought to be experiencing a moderately rapid population decline, owing primarily to habitat loss and degradation, as well as hunting pressure. Any evidence that the decline is more rapid may qualify the species for uplisting to a higher threat category.

History:

2006	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Near Threatened
1988	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Gallinago media breeds primarily in Russia, east to 95°E (150,000-250,000 males), with large numbers in Belarus (12,000-20,000 males) and Norway (10,000-20,000 mature individuals⁸). It also breeds in Poland, Finland, Sweden (1,800 lekking males⁷), Estonia (500-700 males²), Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The Scandinavian population probably numbers 13,000-25,000 mature individuals⁸. The total population is estimated at 500,000-1,050,000 individuals⁹. It should be noted that the estimation of effective breeding populations from numbers of lekking males is difficult as possibly only 50% of males obtain matings⁸. From early August, it migrates through central Asia, central and south-eastern Europe (notably Turkey and Cyprus) and Egypt, with birds gathering in wet high-plateau grasslands in Ethiopia¹. When these dry out in October, birds follow the rains south and west to Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola and Namibia. Its range has contracted and numbers have declined since the late 19th century.
Countries:	Native: Albania; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Belarus; Benin; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; Finland; France; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Hungary; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Lebanon; Liberia; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Lithuania; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malawi; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Moldova; Montenegro; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Norway; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Sierra Leone; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; Sudan; Sweden; Syrian Arab Republic; Tanzania, United Republic of; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Zambia; Zimbabwe Vagrant: Belgium; British Indian Ocean Territory; India; Ireland; Jordan; Luxembourg; Morocco; Myanmar; Oman; Portugal; Seychelles; Somalia; Spain; Sri Lanka; Svalbard and Jan Mayen; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Yemen Present - origin uncertain: Afghanistan; Austria; Equatorial Guinea; Liechtenstein; Switzerland
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There are an estimated 13,000-25,000 mature individuals in Scandanavia (J. A. Kålås in litt. 2007) and 450,000-1,000,000 individuals in W Siberia and NE Europe (V. Morozov in litt. 2007).

Population:

There are an estimated 13,000-25,000 mature individuals in Scandanavia (J. A. Kålås in litt. 2007) and 450,000-1,000,000 individuals in W Siberia and NE Europe (V. Morozov in litt. 2007).

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour This species is migratory⁵. It breeds from mid-May to early-July and nests solitarily, although it has a polygamous mating system⁵. Males form leks after sunset⁵ from May to July, each lek holding 5-30 males¹¹. The departure from the breeding grounds occurs from early-August onwards, with the species arriving on its wintering grounds just after the rainy season⁵. It is generally solitary on migration although groups of up to 10 have been recorded¹⁰. On the non-breeding grounds it is also predominantly solitary but sometimes occurs in small scattered flocks¹⁰. It usually forages singly or in small groups⁵. The return northward migration occurs on a broad front across Africa between March and April⁵. The southern breeding birds go directly to their breeding grounds, while the northern breeding birds probably use more southern roosting sites while waiting for the breeding areas to become available in early June. Habitat Breeding Nesting habitats include flood-plain and tussock meadows, natural fens with scattered bushes and peatlands up to 1,200 m¹ in lowland interior taiga and wooded tundra¹⁰. In the Scandinavian mountains it breeds along the tree line. It shows a preference for habitats rich in sub-surface invertebrates and medium density scrub cover for nesting, often in wide river valleys⁵. Although generally associated with moist to wet terrain, it is tolerant of wooded, and occasionally well-drained sites that adjoin bogs or marshes¹⁰. A considerable area of marshy ground may be essential for display purposes¹⁰. Many sites are fringed wth willow Salix, alder Alnus and Birch Betula growing as scrub or woodland, or burnt areas in course of regrowth¹⁰. It favours areas where the ground is covered with mosses, lichens and dead and decaying leaves¹¹. Juveniles are often found around springs in steppe, or even in wheatfields¹⁰. Non-breeding On migration it occurs in drier meadows but also on sedge marshes with G. gallinago. It gathers on wet high-plateau grasslands in Ethiopia¹ before these dry out in October, after which it follows the rains south and west⁵. During the winter it frequents wetland areas, including marshlands and short grass or sedges on lake edges or in flooded fields⁵. It is also found in drier habitats such as moorland, sand dunes¹¹, tracks in wooded areas, in plough furrows and occasionally at puddles on dirt roads or in old cultivation¹⁰. Diet Its diet consists predominantly of earthworms as well as gastropods, adult and larval terrestrial insects (beetles, tipulids), and the seeds of marsh plants⁵. Breeding site The nest is a shallow depression with a slight lining of grass or moss¹⁰. It is situated on the ground or on grassy tussocks in swamps¹¹. It is often completely concealed in thick vegetation⁵ but may be fairly exposed¹¹. .
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour This species is migratory⁵. It breeds from mid-May to early-July and nests solitarily, although it has a polygamous mating system⁵. Males form leks after sunset⁵ from May to July, each lek holding 5-30 males¹¹. The departure from the breeding grounds occurs from early-August onwards, with the species arriving on its wintering grounds just after the rainy season⁵. It is generally solitary on migration although groups of up to 10 have been recorded¹⁰. On the non-breeding grounds it is also predominantly solitary but sometimes occurs in small scattered flocks¹⁰. It usually forages singly or in small groups⁵. The return northward migration occurs on a broad front across Africa between March and April⁵. The southern breeding birds go directly to their breeding grounds, while the northern breeding birds probably use more southern roosting sites while waiting for the breeding areas to become available in early June. Habitat Breeding Nesting habitats include flood-plain and tussock meadows, natural fens with scattered bushes and peatlands up to 1,200 m¹ in lowland interior taiga and wooded tundra¹⁰. In the Scandinavian mountains it breeds along the tree line. It shows a preference for habitats rich in sub-surface invertebrates and medium density scrub cover for nesting, often in wide river valleys⁵. Although generally associated with moist to wet terrain, it is tolerant of wooded, and occasionally well-drained sites that adjoin bogs or marshes¹⁰. A considerable area of marshy ground may be essential for display purposes¹⁰. Many sites are fringed wth willow Salix, alder Alnus and Birch Betula growing as scrub or woodland, or burnt areas in course of regrowth¹⁰. It favours areas where the ground is covered with mosses, lichens and dead and decaying leaves¹¹. Juveniles are often found around springs in steppe, or even in wheatfields¹⁰. Non-breeding On migration it occurs in drier meadows but also on sedge marshes with G. gallinago. It gathers on wet high-plateau grasslands in Ethiopia¹ before these dry out in October, after which it follows the rains south and west⁵. During the winter it frequents wetland areas, including marshlands and short grass or sedges on lake edges or in flooded fields⁵. It is also found in drier habitats such as moorland, sand dunes¹¹, tracks in wooded areas, in plough furrows and occasionally at puddles on dirt roads or in old cultivation¹⁰. Diet Its diet consists predominantly of earthworms as well as gastropods, adult and larval terrestrial insects (beetles, tipulids), and the seeds of marsh plants⁵. Breeding site The nest is a shallow depression with a slight lining of grass or moss¹⁰. It is situated on the ground or on grassy tussocks in swamps¹¹. It is often completely concealed in thick vegetation⁵ but may be fairly exposed¹¹. .

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Rapid declines in the southern forest and forest-steppe zones of Russia and Ukraine are largely a result of the destruction and deterioration of nesting habitats. The main causes of habitat loss are conversion to intensive agriculture², wetland drainage and the submergence of river valleys during the creation of reservoirs. It is also hunted in eastern Europe and in its wintering range³. Habitat loss due to climate change may represent the most severe threat to the Scandinavian population^6,8.

Major Threat(s):

Rapid declines in the southern forest and forest-steppe zones of Russia and Ukraine are largely a result of the destruction and deterioration of nesting habitats. The main causes of habitat loss are conversion to intensive agriculture², wetland drainage and the submergence of river valleys during the creation of reservoirs. It is also hunted in eastern Europe and in its wintering range³. Habitat loss due to climate change may represent the most severe threat to the Scandinavian population^6,8.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. An international single species action plan was published in 2004⁶. National action plans for this species have been published for several countries, including Sweden, Estonia, Ukraine and Latvia⁶. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor population trends through regular coordinated surveys. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Increase the area of suitable habitat with protected status. Investigate the impact of climate change on the species and determine mitigation measures. Work with farmers and land managers to ensure the use of favourable land management. Initiate changes in agricultural practices through EU and national policies.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. An international single species action plan was published in 2004⁶. National action plans for this species have been published for several countries, including Sweden, Estonia, Ukraine and Latvia⁶.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor population trends through regular coordinated surveys. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Increase the area of suitable habitat with protected status. Investigate the impact of climate change on the species and determine mitigation measures. Work with farmers and land managers to ensure the use of favourable land management. Initiate changes in agricultural practices through EU and national policies.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Gallinago media. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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