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.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
ROSTRATULIDAE - PAINTED SNIPE
A single secretive species with crespuscular habits occurs in Paraguay. Though superficially snipe-like in shape it can be distinguished by the shorter bill, rounded wings and brighter plumage. The bill is long, slender, downcurved and slightly swollen at the tip. Both mandibles are grooved, the nostril lying in a deep, narrow groove that extends for half the length of the upper mandible. Eyes are located towards the front of the skull. The wedge-shaped tail is short with 16 retrices. The toes are unwebbed, though vestigial webbing is present between the middle and outer toe. Sternum with two notches on the posterior edge. Behaviour skulking and extremely difficult to observe, being cryptically-patterned and prone to crouch at the approach of danger. When flushed they rarely fly far, a short distance with legs dangling before returning to cover. Nests are built on the ground in dense vegetation and brood care is the responsibility of the male, though the eggs are incubated by the female. Females are larger and more brightly-coloured.
REFERENCES
Campbell B & Lack E 1985 - A Dictionary of Birds - T & AD Poyser.
Hayman P, Marchant J & Prater T 1986 - Shorebirds: An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World - Helm.
Johnsgard PA 1981 - The Plovers, Sandpipers and Snipes of the World - Nebraska University Press.
