Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Myriam Velázquez and Juan Mazar Barnett and is used with permission.
GIANT SNIPE Gallinago undulata
As dusk sets in and the diurnal birds are settling down to roost, a mysterious and slightly nasal “waka-waka-waka-waka” can be heard emanating from the ground in dense grasslands in eastern Paraguay. Its time for the Giant Snipe to emerge. Its a remarkable bird with a remarkable 12cm long bill, and wonderfully cryptic plumage. Birds on the ground walk with an unsteady kiwi-like waddle, the elongated bill held deliberately out in front and the oversized feet requiring considerable concentration to manipulate. The legs are set way back on the body, giving it a top heavy and almost tailless appearance, and the bird moves slowly and carefully.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE4032PH) Adult, Kanguery, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith August 2013).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE4033PH) Same individual as (FPAVE4032PH) (Paul Smith August 2013).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE4034PH) Same individual as (FPAVE4032PH) (Paul Smith August 2013).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE4035PH) Same individual as (FPAVE4032PH) (Paul Smith August 2013).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE4036PH) Same individual as (FPAVE4032PH) (Paul Smith August 2013).
VIDEO - (FPAVE4041VI) Same individual as (FPAVE4032PH) (Paul Smith August 2013).
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 4

FIGURE 4

FIGURE 5

FIGURE 5

Gallinago undulata
1 (FPAVE748RE) Song and wing sounds during display recorded Aguara-Ñu, Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve, Departamento Canindeyú (Juan Mazar Barnett November 1997).
2 (FPAVE749RE) Ground song and one flight song recorded Aguara-Ñu, Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve, Departamento Canindeyú (Juan Mazar Barnett May 1997).
3 (FPAVE750RE) Ground song at dusk recorded Aguara-Ñu, Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve, Departamento Canindeyú (Juan Mazar Barnett October 1997).
4 (FPAVE4037RE) Flight song recorded Di Tore, Departamento Itapúa (Myriam Velázquez July 2000).
5 (FPAVE4038RE) Flight song recorded Di Tore, Departamento Itapúa (Myriam Velázquez July 2000).
6 (FPAVE4039RE) Flight song recorded Di Tore, Departamento Itapúa (Myriam Velázquez July 2000).
7 (FPAVE4040RE) Ground song recorded Di Tore, Departamento Itapúa (Myriam Velázquez July 2000).
Click the link to hear the call. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website Xeno-Canto - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.