Present in the UK all year round, Snipe breed on moorlands and bogs, over-wintering on well-vegetated wetlands, favouring pool edges. In winter the resident numbers are swelled by continental birds from Northern Europe.
Snipes are skulking, wader birds, medium sized, with long straight beaks and short legs. Both male and female birds are mottled brown with buff stripes above, pale underparts and dark streaked chests.
Listen out during the Summer for the distinctive, thin, bleating noise that accompanies the snipe's evocative aerial display (known as drumming) which is produced by the wind whistling through specially adapted tail feathers.
