General Description: Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) are small, short-legged plump birds that winter in the Las Vegas area. Snipe live in marshy places where they freeze and blend in with the background to avoid detection. If you get too close, they burst from cover and fly away rapidly in a zig-zag pattern. If you see one, note the overall brown color, very long bill, striped head, and narrow buffy stripes on the back. The center of the back is brown, not white.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae, Scolopacinae.

Favored Habitat: Boggy places with cover on the edge of ponds, marshes, and streams.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for this species around water, especially in marshy places such as the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the Pahranagat Valley, and the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments: Snipe feed by probing mud with their long bill to catch bugs.