Painted snipe
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Painted Snipes
| image = paintedsnipe400.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Greater Painted Snipe
(Rostralata benghalensis)
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Chordata
| classis = Aves
| ordo = Charadriiformes
| familia = Rostratulidae
| familia_authority = Ridgway, 1919
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
- Rostralata benghalensis
- Nycticryptes semicollaris
| range_map = Rostratula_benghalensis_map.png }} Painted snipe are distinctive waders placed together in their own family Rostratulidae. They are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but much more brightly coloured.
The female is brighter than the male and takes the lead in courtship. The male incubates the eggs, usually 4, in a nest on the ground or floating for about 20 days.
Both species live in reedy swamps, and their diet consists of annelid worms and other invertebrates they find with their long bills.
The Greater Painted Snipe (Rostralata benghalensis) is found in marshes in Africa, India, South-east Asia and Australia.
The Lesser Painted Snipe ( Nycticryptes semicollaris), inhabits grassy marshland in southern South America.
External links
- Painted snipe videos on the Internet Bird Collectionde:Goldschnepfen
fr:Rostratulidae ko:호사도요과 he:מקוריתיים nl:Goudsnippen ja:タマシギ科 (Sibley) pt:Rostratulidae