A Distinctive Wader With A Pure White Comma Surrounding The Eye And Another Extending Upwards In A Bright White Arc Across The Shoulders – Meet The Greater Painted-Snipe!
An unusual bird in that, unlike many birds the female is actually more brightly colored than the male.
A wading bird with a bright white comma around their eyes and a band that extends upwards in a bright white arc right over their shoulders.
Meet the Greater painted-snipe
The greater painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) is a species of wader in the Rostratulidae family. An unusual bird in that, unlike many birds the female is actually more brightly colored than the male. The sides of the head, neck, and throat are a rich chestnut brown color with a distinct black band across the breast. There is a pure white patch around the eye, with a band of white extending up from around the top of the folded wings. They have a long reddish-brown bill, slightly curved at the tip, rounded, buff-spotted wings, and a short tail.
The male, though colorful, does tend to be paler and greyer than the female.
Juveniles tend to look more like the male of the species.
This species of bird is found in marshes in Africa, South Asia, and South-east Asia.
The Greater-painted snipe feeds primarily on insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and seeds.
During the breeding season, from April to July, the female courts the male, giving a series of owl-like hoots. Once paired a nest is built, usually in a shallow scrape in soft ground, which is lined with plant material amongst grass and reeds near the water’s edge. The male will incubate the eggs and raise the young.
This species is considered to be at least concern on the IUCN Red List.
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