Our mystery bird revealed!

Wilson's Snipe, Merced National Wildlife Refuge, California=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+To download a low-resolution version of this image, right-click on it. The low-resolution image is free to use and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative Works license. This allows you to use this image in a non-commercial way as long as you give proper attribution of the author and source. This license does not allow you to re-publish it for commercial use or to use it in an altered form without my explicit permission. If you wish to buy a print of this impage or license it for commercial use (you will receive a full-resolution, non-watermarked jpeg), you can do so in the store by clicking on the Buybutton.

Yesterday, I posted a picture of a mystery bird, which basically showed a small brown lump hiding among the grass.

Here’s the bird, in a less obscure pose. It’s a Wilson’s Snipe, a small brown shorebird who’s coloration is such that when it’s not moving, it can be incredibly hard to notice. Their primary defense against predators is to get in among the foliage along the shoreline and then not move.

Here’s another shot of the Wilson’s Snipe.

Wilson's Snipe, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, California=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+To download a low-resolution version of this image, right-click on it. The low-resolution image is free to use and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative Works license. This allows you to use this image in a non-commercial way as long as you give proper attribution of the author and source. This license does not allow you to re-publish it for commercial use or to use it in an altered form without my explicit permission. If you wish to buy a print of this impage or license it for commercial use (you will receive a full-resolution, non-watermarked jpeg), you can do so in the store by clicking on the Buy button.

I was actually feeling pretty good about myself catching that one along the shore, until I got home and looked at the pictures, and in a wider-angle version of that shot, saw two more snipe hanging out that I never had a clue were there while I was searching for them both no more than 2 feet from this bird.

 

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  • http://twitter.com/Guinstice Guinevere Stice

    I love Snipes! It’s so nice to see one that is healthy. All I ever get to see are banged up ones at work.