Shorebirds

Wilson's Snipe

Gallinago delicata

A stocky, cryptically patterned shorebird with an extremely long, straight bill and bold striping on the head. It probes deep into soft mud for invertebrates, often remaining hidden until flushed at close range.

Current regional viewing notes

Wet meadows, muskeg edges, and marshy areas near Hoonah; listen for its winnowing display flight over open bogs.

Dataset note: This legacy field can be specific to Southeast Alaska/Hoonah and is not a complete statewide range statement.

Habitat

Wet meadows, bogs, muskeg, and marshy areas.

Diet

Insect larvae, earthworms, snails, and other invertebrates probed from soft soil.

Natural history note

The eerie winnowing sound made by displaying Wilson's Snipe is not vocal — it is produced by air vibrating through the spread outer tail feathers during steep dives.