AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Winter Occurrence, Foods, and Habitat Use of Snipe in Northwest California

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1966
Authors:White, M, Harris, SW
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:30
Issue:1
Date Published:1966
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Capella, Capella gallinago, Gallinago, Gallinago gallinago, Scolopacidae
Abstract:Occurrence, food habits, and habitat use of the wintering Wilson snipe (Capella gallinago) population in the Humboldt Bay region of northwest California were investigated from September, 1961, until April, 1963. The two study areas included salt marsh, and upland and lowland dairy pastures, the main habitat types used by snipe in this large wintering area. Snipe arrived during the first week of October and numbers increased to a yearly maximum in mid-November, representing fall migration. Shortly thereafter numbers declined considerably and then increased to one or more secondary peaks in December or later. During the winter, snipe occurrence on the study areas was variable. No well-defined increase in the population occurred during the period of spring migration. After March, numbers declined until the last snipe were seen in mid-April. Terrestrial insects (mostly beetles), seeds, crustaceans, and land snails were the most important food items. Food habits evaluation was complicated because the animal material was finely ground, and there was a large amount of unrecognizable plant fibers which the snipe may have picked up incidently while probing for food animals. Most feeding occurred in upland areas where foods were abundant. Aquatic and semi-aquatic foods were much less important than was indicated in previous studies. Lowland pastures and salt marsh islands were little used as feeding areas, although potential food was abundant. Salt marsh islands were much used for loafing and preening. Both pastures and salt marshes provided closely cropped vegetation, a condition favorable to use by snipe.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3797881
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
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