Gallinago gallinago, also known as the Common Snipe, measures about 27 cm in size and has brown plumage with darker patterns and light stripes on its back. This species has a distinctive long bill (Schaefer 2018). Common Snipes are mainly found in bogs, marshes, and wet meadows, where they build their nests in shallow depressions on the ground. The breeding season starts in late March/early April and lasts for about 20 days. In some areas, Common Snipes are resident birds, while other populations are migratory and winter in Africa. The populations in Germany have significantly declined (Jöbges et al. 2012), likely due to habitat loss. As a result, Gallinago gallinago is considered “strictly protected” according to the German Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV).

Diet: The Common Snipe primarily feeds on small ground-dwelling animals, such as insects and their larvae, as well as plant material.

Conservation status: The populations of the Common Snipe are declining according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but it is currently categorized as “least concern.” However, in the Red List of Germany, Gallinago gallinago is classified as “critically endangered.”