Yesterday I encountered the strangest-looking bird I have ever seen in the wild.
As I was marveling at the fact that some of the water surrounding the beaver pond at my local marshland park had not frozen despite multiple days of temperatures in the 20’s (minus 4-6 degrees C), I heard a sound in the water. Most of the birds that I had seen earlier in the day were sparrows, pecking away in the undergrowth, but it was clear that this was no sparrow.
The bird was standing in the shallow water and was bent over. When he withdrew his bill from the water, I was amazed at its length—it looked to be almost freakishly long. When I first looked at my images on the computer screen, I though of a recent posting of fellow blogger Calee in which she comment that an orchid she had photographed looked like a cartoon character. Truly, this bird looked like he could have been playing the role of Pinnochio.
I think that this bird is a Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata), judging from the information that I was able to find on the internet and in my Peterson’s guide. I really like the way that he blends in with the surroundings in which I found him. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology lists some fascinating facts about the bird’s extra-long bill, “The long bill of the Wilson’s Snipe is flexible. The tips can be opened and closed with no movement at the base of the bill. Sensory pits at the tip of the bill allow the snipe to feel its prey deep in the mud.”
It’s a bit early for the mating season, but it seems that the family life of the Wilson’s Snipes is as dysfunctional as that of some humans. According to the Cornell Lab, “The clutch size of the Wilson’s Snipe is almost always four eggs. The male snipe takes the first two chicks to hatch and leaves the nest with them. The female takes the last two and cares for them. Apparently the parents have no contact after that point.”
The range maps for this bird show that I am close to the northern edge of the wintering area for these migratory birds, so I am hoping that I’ll have a chance to see one again.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Excellent shots, Mike. When I’ve managed to spot those guys, they usually just disappear into the background and run away when I try to get close enough for a picture.
Thanks. Joe. I guess he was concentrating so hard on getting something to eat that he didn’t even notice me. He walked behind some tall grass after I took the photos and I never did see him in flight. I’m really giving the Cornell Lab website and my new identification guide quite a workout as I try to figure out what birds I have photographed.
So, if I go snipe hunting, this is what I’m looking for? Incredibly beautiful – I’ll use a camera, not a gun.
I looked up the history of snipe hunting and this bird is at the origin of the expression (though nowadays nobody uses the expression liierally–I think).
very nice photographs.. if not for the snow, I’m sure that this bird would blend in with its surrounding and be difficult to see.
Pinocchio is cute!! 🙂 And I see that you’ve used your bird whisperer skills to get great profile shots!
Wow — what a great sighting, and you got close enough for a great shot. What a schnoz! This must be the North American equivalent of a kiwi.
These are great photos of the Wilson’s Snipe, Mike. Usually they are in tall grass the same color as the bird, making it tricky to photograph. But here with the snow you had a beautiful background. I enjoyed the info about the snipe and share your fascination for this unusual and delightful bird.