Foraging Habitats of Female Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago During the Incubation Period

Habitat use and diet of Common SnipeGallinago gallinagobreeding on moorland in northern England

“…Comparison of our diet reconstruction with that of Green et al (1990), based on faecal samples from incubating females nesting on lowland wet grassland, indicates that a greater diversity of prey was eaten on moorland, although the numbers of samples examined in both studies were small. The two main differences were that tipulid larvae were taken more frequently on moorland and that more aquatic groups (dragonfly nymphs, chironomid larvae, aquatic beetles, freshwater snails and mussels) were included in the diet on moorland than on lowland wet grassland, where the only aquatic prey taken were chironomid larvae.…”

“…The two main differences were that tipulid larvae were taken more frequently on moorland and that more aquatic groups (dragonfly nymphs, chironomid larvae, aquatic beetles, freshwater snails and mussels) were included in the diet on moorland than on lowland wet grassland, where the only aquatic prey taken were chironomid larvae. Green et al (1990) found that the proportion of earthworms in Snipe diet can vary appreciably between years on lowland grassland in relation to flooding in spring. In years when fewer earthworms were available owing to excess standing water, more chironomid larvae were taken.…”

“…In years when earthworms were more plentiful, most females fed in unflooded meadowland near the nest; those that moved to wetter habitats were birds that had encountered soils too dry to probe close to the nest. Green et al (1990) showed that radiotagged females typically walked short distances (up to about 70 m) to feed on dry grassland near the nest, whilst others flew up to about 390 m to feed at ditches and shallow pools. In the uplands, the feeding locations, distances travelled from the nest and proportion of earthworms in the diet of females are likely to be determined by whether they are nesting on moorland or in-bye fields.…”

Habitat Change and Timing of Dusk Flight in the Eurasian Woodcock: A Trade-Off between Feeding and Predator Avoidance?

“…Green et al (1990) stressed that movement from the nest to feeding sites of female Gallinago gallinago, a close relative of woodcock, are likely to draw the attention of predators. Furthermore, many studies have reported higher rates of predation close to habitat boundaries (e.g., McCollin 1998, Morris & Gilroy 2008.…”

“…The efficiency of this feeding behaviour depends upon prey availability and soil penetrability, making these the key elements in the selection of feeding sites (Green et al 1990, Hoodless & Hirons 2007. In winter, the Eurasian woodcock shifts its daily activity between two habitat types that differ in food quality and predator pressure.…”