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Jack snipe
Jack snipe
Jack snipe
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Jack snipe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Lymnocryptes
F. Boie, 1826
Species:
L. minimus
Binomial name
Lymnocryptes minimus
(Brünnich, 1764)
Range of L. minimus
  Breeding
  Non-breeding
Synonyms
  • Scolopax minima Brünnich, 1764

The jack snipe or jacksnipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe, and the only member of the genus Lymnocryptes. Features such as its sternum and its continuous 'bobbing up and down' make it quite distinct from other snipes or woodcocks.[2][3]

Taxonomy

[edit]

The jack snipe was formally described in 1764 by the Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich under the binomial name Scolopax minima. He specified the type locality as the Danish island of Christiansø. Brünnich based his account on "La petite béccassine" that had been described and illustrated in 1760 by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson.[4][5][6] The jack snipe is now the only species placed in the genus Lymnocryptes that was introduced in 1826 by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie.[7][8][9] The species is considered to be monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.[9] The genus name Lymnocryptes is from Ancient Greek limne, "marsh" and kruptos, "hidden". The species name minimus is from Latin and means "smallest".[10]

The common name has been said to come from the Welsh word for a snipe, giach (pronounced with a hard g),[11] but modern dictionaries say it comes from the masculine name Jack.[12][13] Alfred Newton hypothesized that, "It may be, as in Jackass, an indication of sex, for it is a popular belief that the Jack-Snipe is the male of the common species; or, again, it may refer to the comparatively small size of the bird, as the 'jack' in the game of bowls is the smallest of the balls used, and as fishermen call the smaller Pikes Jacks."[2]

Description

[edit]
Lymnocryptes minimus

Adults are smaller than common snipes and have relatively shorter bills. The bird's length is 18–25 cm (7.1–9.8 in), wingspan is 30–41 cm (12–16 in) and weight is 33–73 g (1.2–2.6 oz).[14] The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. Jack snipes have a dark stripe through the eye. The wings are pointed and narrow, and yellow back stripes are visible in flight. When seen, the distinctive bobbing movement, as if the bird is on springs, has an almost hypnotic quality.[citation needed]

The head pattern of the jack snipe differs from the common snipe and other species in the genus Gallinago, in that there is no central crown-stripe; instead, there are two pale lateral crown-stripes, which are separated from the supercilium by an area of dark plumage.

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

Jack snipes are migratory, spending the non-breeding period in Great Britain, Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal Europe, Africa, and India. The jack snipe is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. Their breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows with short vegetation in northern Europe and northern Russia. They are rare vagrants in North America.[15] There is also a record from Colombia in South America.[16]

Behaviour

[edit]
Jack snipe egg

Jack snipes can be secretive in their non-breeding areas and are difficult to observe, being well camouflaged in their habitat. Consequently, birdwatchers have developed a specialised technique for finding them. This involves walking through its marshy habitat until a bird is disturbed and flies up. Jack snipes will squat down and not flush from cover until an intruder is quite close.[2] They then quietly fly a short distance before dropping back into vegetation.[2]

Feeding

[edit]

They forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material.

Breeding

[edit]

The male performs an aerial display during courtship, during which it makes a distinctive sound like a galloping horse. It is silent in winter. They nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, laying 3–4 eggs.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jack snipe

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is a small, migratory wader in the family Scolopacidae, renowned for its exceptional camouflage and elusive nature in wetland environments. Measuring 17–19 cm in length with a wingspan of 38–42 cm and weighing 35–73 g, it is the smallest snipe species, featuring mottled brown upperparts, pale underparts, a dark eye stripe, and two pale yellow stripes on its back that are visible in flight. Unlike the common snipe, it lacks a central crown stripe and has a shorter, straighter bill, aiding its secretive foraging habits. Breeding in the northern taiga and forest-tundra zones of and , the jack inhabits open grassy marshes, bogs, and wet meadows with short vegetation, often in swampy or flooded areas. During winter, it migrates to a variety of freshwater and brackish wetlands, including mudflats, swamps, rice fields, and floodplains across , , the , and southern . The species is a full migrant, with breeding occurring from May to September in regions such as , the , and , and southward movements peaking in September–November, followed by northward return in March–April. The jack snipe's diet consists primarily of , earthworms, gastropods, and plant seeds, which it probes for in soft mud using its bill, often at night or during crepuscular periods. Behaviorally solitary outside the breeding season, it employs a distinctive bobbing motion while feeding and flushes abruptly only when closely approached, zigzagging low over the ground to evade predators. Males perform elaborate aerial displays, producing a mechanical "galloping" sound with their tails during steep dives. Breeding pairs are territorial and solitary, with nests constructed as shallow scrapes on hummocks or drier ground, typically holding 3–4 eggs incubated for about 20 days. Globally, the jack snipe population is estimated at 707,000–1,490,000 mature individuals (2006 estimate), with a stable trend, classifying it as Least Concern on the . In the UK, it is a winter visitor numbering around 110,000 birds, favoring coastal and inland wetlands. Although not currently threatened, it faces risks from loss due to drainage and agricultural intensification, as well as incidental and in some regions.

Taxonomy

Classification

The jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is a monotypic belonging to the Scolopacidae, which encompasses sandpipers, , and their allies. It is the sole member of the Lymnocryptes, with no recognized , reflecting its distinct evolutionary lineage within the snipe group. The was originally described as Scolopax minima by Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich in 1764, based on specimens from . The current Lymnocryptes was established by German ornithologist Friedrich Boie in 1826 to accommodate this unique small , separating it from the larger . Within Scolopacidae, the jack snipe is classified in the subfamily Scolopacinae, sharing morphological and behavioral traits adapted for environments with other s. This placement aligns it closely with other snipes, such as the ( gallinago) and species like the pintail snipe ( stenura), forming a monophyletic characterized by cryptic and strategies. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA support this grouping, positioning Lymnocryptes as allied with through shared ancestry in the subfamily Scolopacinae. The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) World Bird List, in its version 14.2 (2025), upholds this taxonomy, confirming Lymnocryptes minimus as a standalone entity without variation across its Palearctic breeding range. This classification is also maintained in the unified AviList adopted in 2025 by major ornithological bodies, underscoring the jack snipe's specialized role within the diverse Scolopacidae radiation.

Etymology

The common name "jack snipe" employs "jack" as a traditional English prefix denoting smallness or youth, used here to differentiate the species from the larger (Gallinago gallinago), highlighting its more compact build. The root "" traces back to snípa, a term for "moor " that evoked the bird's elongated bill and affinity for marshy terrains, entering English via snite or snype, both linked to notions of a probing "." The binomial name Lymnocryptes minimus reflects key aspects of the bird's and morphology. The genus Lymnocryptes combines Greek limnē (meaning "marsh" or "pool") with kryptos ("hidden"), capturing the ' elusive, camouflaged presence in damp, vegetated habitats where it remains inconspicuous to predators and observers. The epithet minimus derives from Latin for "smallest," underscoring its status as one of the tiniest members of the , often measuring under 25 cm in . Early English records of "jack snipe" emerge in 17th-century ornithological works, with the first systematic description appearing in and John Ray's Ornithologia libri tres (1676), where it is explicitly separated from bigger congeners based on size and subtle differences. This usage predates broader compilations and marks the name's establishment in scientific discourse.

Description

Physical characteristics

The jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is a compact wader with a body length of 17–19 cm, a wingspan of 38–42 cm, and a body mass ranging from 35–73 g. These dimensions render it noticeably smaller and stockier than the common snipe (Gallinago gallinago). Sexual dimorphism is evident in morphometrics, with males exhibiting greater overall size: they possess longer wings (average 118 mm versus 112 mm in females), longer heads (67.4 mm versus 66.3 mm), longer skulls (26.4 mm versus 25.1 mm), deeper bills (9.2 mm versus 8.5 mm), wider bills (5.5 mm versus 5.2 mm), and longer middle toes with claws (31.5 mm versus 31.1 mm), while females have marginally longer bills (41.2 mm versus 41.0 mm). No significant differences occur in tarsus length or middle toe length alone. The straight bill measures about 3.5–5 cm in length—roughly half that of the —and features a pale yellowish or pinkish base that contrasts with a darker tip. The legs are short and colored pale greenish-yellow to dull pinkish-brown, supporting feet with widely spaced toes that distribute weight effectively on soft, muddy substrates.

Identification features

The jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is distinguished by its cryptic , which provides excellent in environments. The upperparts are mottled brown with blackish streaks and prominent pale buff or golden stripes along and scapulars, forming distinctive "braces" down the back. The crown bears a dark central stripe flanked by pale edges, lacking the pale median crown stripe of the ; a pale contrasts with a dark eye stripe and a dark spot on the ear coverts. Underparts are pale buff to white, with fine dark streaking on the breast and flanks. The tail is short and wedge-shaped, dark brown overall without white edges or barring, differing from the more pointed, barred tail with white outer feathers of the . In flight, the jack snipe reveals shorter, pointed wings lacking a white trailing edge or wing bar, resulting in rapid, whirring wingbeats; it typically rises silently from close range and drops quickly back to cover rather than zigzagging away at length. Key field marks separate the jack snipe from confusion species. Compared to the , it is smaller with a shorter bill, shows the dark undivided crown, golden back stripes, and streaked (rather than barred) flanks. It differs from the by its more diffuse streaking extending onto the flanks and a shorter, straighter bill, rather than the latter's sharply demarcated band and unstreaked belly and flanks. A subtle behavioral trait is the constant bobbing of the head and body when alarmed or feeding, though this alone is not diagnostic.

Distribution and habitat

Breeding range

The jack snipe primarily breeds in the northern and forest-tundra zones across and western . Its core breeding grounds span —including and —the such as and , and extend eastward through European and central Asian to . These areas support the majority of the species' breeding populations, with suitable habitats consisting of open grassy marshes and bogs in swampy lowlands to . The European breeding is estimated at 15,200–38,900 pairs (30,500–77,700 mature individuals) as of 2021 and is considered stable based on available data from key countries like and . Globally, the breeding ranges from 707,000 to 1,490,000 mature individuals as of 2023, also stable overall per the 2025 IUCN assessment. Breeding occurs at altitudes from 0 to 1,500 m, primarily in environments that provide cover and opportunities. Historical observations indicate a slight northward expansion of the breeding range in response to warming, particularly in northern regions, though contractions have occurred in the Baltic area over recent decades; no major shifts have been documented as of 2012.

Migration patterns

The jack is a full long-distance migrant that undertakes seasonal movements from its boreal and breeding grounds in and to wintering areas further south. Post-breeding departure typically occurs from mid-September to mid-November, with peak passage in early ; juveniles often migrate a few days earlier than adults. Birds return to breeding areas from March to mid-April, extending to late May in eastern . Migration follows a broad-front strategy across , with a general northeast-southwest for western populations and more southerly paths for eastern ones. Western birds, breeding from northeast to the eastern Baltic, primarily head to (including the and ) and sub-Saharan African wetlands, with some reaching the northern . Eastern populations from central Russia to migrate to , the , , and for the non-breeding season. The is a rare vagrant outside its typical range, with records in including , and the . It has also been documented as an accidental visitor in . During migration, jack snipes utilize stopover sites such as coastal marshes and muddy shorelines for resting and refueling, as evidenced by captures at locations in Ireland and . Ringing recoveries, including those coordinated through European schemes, indicate average migration distances of approximately 2,000–5,000 km, with longer journeys for birds reaching or southern .

Habitat preferences

The jack snipe selects breeding habitats characterized by wet meadows, bogs, and sedge marshes featuring dense that provides essential cover for nesting and concealment. These environments typically include swampy ground in northern and forest zones, with open grassy marshes, floodplains, and areas of moss or grass tussocks supporting dwarf and heather. These habitats support waterlogged conditions that maintain moisture levels critical for the species. During the non-breeding season, jack snipes inhabit a variety of freshwater and brackish wetlands, including mudflats, rice paddies, and edges of rivers, streams, and flooded fields, often in mosaics of moist and waterlogged areas with silty mud. They show a strong preference for shallow water depths, which facilitates access to soft substrates while allowing dense tussock vegetation for cover. These sites, such as swamps, , damp pastures, and water meadows, provide the soft, probeable mud essential for their activities. At the microhabitat level, jack snipes favor dense grass tussocks for nesting, often placing shallow depressions lined with vegetation on floating bogs or drier ground amid wet alder woods and willow marshes. The soft mud in these microhabitats, combined with emergent grasses and reedbeds, offers protection from predators and suitable probing conditions. The species demonstrates adaptations such as tolerance for cold winters in milder temperate regions, enabling overwintering in wetland mosaics, while avoiding heavily drained farmlands that lack sufficient moisture. Overall, jack snipes prefer temperate to boreal climate zones with consistent availability. Brief overlaps with migration stopover sites may occur in similar mosaics, though details are covered elsewhere.

Behaviour

Feeding habits

The jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) primarily feeds on small , including adult and larval (such as chironomid midges and tipulid flies), worms (earthworms), and mollusks (small gastropods like Hydrobia and Succinea species), with plant matter like seeds and vegetative debris constituting a minor portion of the diet, especially during winter. Foraging occurs mainly in soft, waterlogged mud or shallow water within habitats like marshes and mudflats, where the bird probes the substrate with its long, straight bill equipped with sensitive tactile pits at the tip to detect hidden prey. It employs a characteristic "sewing machine" motion while probing and often bobs its body rhythmically to disturb potential prey, occasionally picking items visible on the surface. Feeding is predominantly crepuscular, taking place at dawn and dusk or nocturnally under moonlight, with individuals typically foraging alone or in loose groups of up to five outside the breeding season. The bird selects soft-bodied prey in moist, silty soils, favoring environments rich in invertebrates while avoiding firmer substrates. Gut content analyses from temperate regions, such as 17 specimens examined in Scotland during winter months, reveal that annelids, dipteran larvae, coleopterans (e.g., Laccobius), and gastropods dominate the diet, comprising the majority of identifiable material alongside minor vegetable debris. A separate analysis of a winter specimen from the same region confirmed similar composition, including chironomid larvae, amphipods, and crushed snail shells.

Breeding biology

The jack snipe breeds across its northern range from May to early , primarily in solitary pairs that are well-dispersed. The reproductive cycle centers on well-concealed ground nests placed on hummocks of sphagnum moss or grass tussocks in floating bogs, or occasionally on drier ground amid low vegetation such as dwarf birch or heather; these nests take the form of shallow scrapes lined with grass or leaves. Females lay clutches of 3–4 olive-brown eggs spotted with darker markings, possibly double-brooded, which are incubated solely by the for 21–24 days. The chicks are precocial, departing the nest shortly after hatching and receiving brooding care exclusively from the ; they after approximately 21 days. The handles all parental duties, with no significant male involvement reported beyond initial mating. Breeding success data for the jack remain limited due to the species' secretive nature and remote habitats, though annual reproduction is monitored in parts of via wing surveys; predation by mammals and birds represents a primary cause of nest failure in similar snipe species within shared environments.

Courtship and displays

The of the jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is characterized by aerial displays performed to attract females, typically occurring in northern breeding grounds during the pre-incubation period. These displays intensify in May as part of the breeding season, which spans May to early . Males initiate by rising from the ground at a 45–50° angle to heights of 50–60 m (occasionally up to 200 m), then flying in straight lines, wide semi-circles, or circular patterns before executing steep dives with sharp turns. Unlike the , the jack snipe produces no mechanical winnowing from tail feathers during these flights; instead, a distinctive "galloping " vocalization accompanies the dives, supplemented by grunt calls during hovering phases. The galloping phase averages 11.7 seconds in duration, with flight speeds reaching 77 km/h on average, though full display bouts can extend longer. descents may include a whirring from wing quills. On the ground, males supplement aerial displays with "cantering" vocalizations, rendered as liquid or bubbling sounds like "lock-toggi" or "clockety-clockey," which lack the complexity of songs in related snipes. The species remains largely silent outside breeding, with a sharp "jik-jik" serving as the primary . Pair formation is solitary rather than communal, with monogamous bonds forming for the season following responses to displays.

Conservation

Status and population

The jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) is classified as Least Concern on the , with the most recent assessment in 2025 confirming its stable global status. The global population is estimated at 707,000–1,490,000 mature individuals. In , the breeding population comprises 15,200–38,900 pairs, corresponding to 30,500–77,700 mature individuals. Population trends are stable overall worldwide, based on assessments up to 2023, with no significant changes reported as of 2025. In , trends over the past decade are largely unknown or stable, though some wintering populations in western regions like the show variable short-term fluctuations. Stability in Asian breeding areas, particularly , offsets any minor regional variations. Monitoring relies on data from Wetlands International's Waterbird Population Estimates and national censuses, such as those coordinated by partners and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in the UK, which track breeding and wintering distributions through surveys like the International Waterbird . In , populations in countries like and remain stable, supported by ongoing monitoring.

Threats

The jack snipe faces significant threats from habitat loss, primarily through the drainage and degradation of for agricultural intensification, , and extraction, which reduces suitable breeding and areas across its range. In , where much of the breeding population occurs, wetland habitats have declined by approximately 50% over the past 300 years, with accelerated losses in the due to . Climate-induced drying further exacerbates this by altering wetland and diminishing moist soil conditions essential for the species. Hunting poses a moderate risk, particularly during autumn migration, where the is legally targeted in some European countries such as and , though its small and secretive limit overall impact. Illegal trapping and along migration routes, especially in the Mediterranean and parts of , add to mortality, though data on bag numbers remain limited. Predators including mammals like red foxes and raptors such as and harriers prey on adults, eggs, and chicks. affects jack through the of sediments and prey base; pesticides from agricultural runoff reduce populations, a key food source, leading to nutritional stress. , including lead from ingested shot in wetlands, cause direct and sublethal effects like impaired . Climate change disrupts jack snipe populations by altering migration timing and prompting potential northward range shifts, with over 90% of current breeding areas projected to experience changes. Warmer temperatures may desynchronize arrival with peak availability, increasing energy demands during breeding and migration.

Conservation measures

The jack snipe benefits from international agreements such as the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), which promotes protection and sustainable hunting practices across its range. Key actions include the designation of Ramsar sites and national conservation programs that restore and manage marshes and bogs. Ongoing monitoring through the International Waterbird Census helps track population changes and inform habitat management.

References

  1. https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/jack-snipe-lymnocryptes-minimus
  2. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/jack-snipe
  3. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/sandpipers/
  4. https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=1A15F0C6B4948C52
  5. https://www.gbif.org/species/2481835
  6. https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/133/3/544/5149231
  7. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/
  8. https://bou.org.uk/british-list/bou-to-adopt-new-avilist-global-avian-taxonomy/
  9. https://www.etymonline.com/word/snipe
  10. https://www.birdforum.net/threads/origin-of-the-name-jack-snipe.127988/
  11. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/wading-birds/jack-snipe
  12. https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/jack-snipe
  13. https://brill.com/downloadpdf/book/9789004285323/B9789004285323_009.pdf
  14. https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/jack-snipe
  15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260019068_Sex_identification_of_Jack_Snipe_Lymnocryptes_minimus_by_discriminant_analysis_of_morphometric_measurements
  16. http://snipeconservationalliance.org/jack-snipe/
  17. https://www.birdspot.co.uk/bird-identification/jack-snipe
  18. https://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-jack-snipe.html
  19. https://luontoportti.com/en/t/2395
  20. https://ebird.org/species/jacsni
  21. https://birdlifedata.blob.core.windows.net/sub-global/3000_lymnocryptes_minimus.pdf
  22. https://journals.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JEELM/article/download/4632/3958/10076
  23. https://migrationatlas.org/node/1605
  24. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355130263_Autumn_migration_of_Jack_Snipe_Lymnocryptes_minimus_in_southern_Sweden_results_from_ten_years_of_crepuscular_ringing
  25. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/jacsni/cur/introduction
  26. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362791803_Jack_Snipe_Lymnocryptes_minimus_Charadriiformes_Scolopacidae
  27. https://bcrarebirdrecords.ca/species/jack-snipe
  28. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323726664_Migration_phenology_of_Jack_Snipe_Lymnocryptes_minimus_at_an_Irish_coastal_wetland
  29. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1579&context=wsg_bulletin
  30. https://britishbirds.co.uk/sites/default/files/V30_N07_P209-218_A037.pdf
  31. https://earthlife.net/jack-snipes/
  32. https://birdfact.com/birds/jack-snipe
  33. https://planetofbirds.com/charadriiformes-scolopacidae-jack-snipe-lymnocryptes-minimus/
  34. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aat8695
  35. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8630&context=wilson_bulletin
  36. https://ntnuopen.ntnu.no/ntnu-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3087842/SandercockChasingBioacoustics2023hybrid.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  37. https://dokumen.pub/british-birds-a-pocket-guide-9780691190587.html
  38. https://app.mybirdbuddy.com/birds/jack-snipe/ddc3163a-d9c1-42ac-aeb1-1bbfb65b1745
  39. https://wpp.wetlands.org/
  40. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/08/world-wetlands-europe-lost-study-aoe
  41. https://www.unep-aewa.org/sites/default/files/publication/ts_29_review_hunting_0.pdf
  42. https://awesomewildlifeco.co.uk/pages/all-about-jack-snipe-bird-jack-snipe-facts-information
  43. https://datazone.birdlife.org/articles/pesticides-can-cause-mass-poisoning-of-birds
  44. https://climatechangeresponses.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40665-015-0013-9
  45. https://www.unep-aewa.org/en/species/jack-snipe
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