LATHAM'S SNIPE

Photographed near Geelong, Victoria, November 2014.

402        LATHAM'S SNIPE           Gallinago hardwickii

Australia              (276)

Also known as Australian or Japanese Snipe. 28-31 cm, bill 7.5 cm. Breeds in Japan and migrates to Australia for the summer, range in Australia from Perth up w coast and across the n. to the Gulf, from Cape York down e coast and across to Eyre Peninsular and some distance inland, all of Tasmania. Found on soft wet ground or shallow water with tussocks, wet parts of paddocks, seepage below dams, irrigated areas, sultans, bogs and mangrove fringes.