NT
Great Snipe Gallinago media



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Near Threatened A2cd+3cd+4cd
2016 Near Threatened A2cd+3cd+4cd
2015 Near Threatened A2cd+3cd+4cd
2012 Near Threatened A2cd+3cd+4cd
2008 Near Threatened A2c,d; A3c,d; A4c,d
2006 Near Threatened
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 9,730,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 17,900,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 200000-380000 mature individuals medium estimated 2018
Population trend decreasing - inferred 2013-2025
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Generation length 4.1 years - - -

Population justification: The Great Snipe consists of two genetically isolated (Ekblom et al., 2007) and morphologically distinct (Kalas et al., 1997b) breeding populations with distinct flyways: Western Siberia & NE Europe/SE Africa and Scandinavia/West Africa, with estimated population sizes of 191,000-344,000 mature individuals (290,000-520,000 total) and 13,000-35,000 mature individuals (19,000-52,000 total), respectively (Wetlands International, 2021). This sums up to 204,000-379,000 mature individuals globally (rounded to 200,000-380,000), and 310,000-570,000 total individuals. The European population size is inferred (from numbers of lekking males) to be between 104,000-181,000 (or 156,000-271,500 total), with a best estimate of 136,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.). It should be noted that the estimation of effective breeding populations from numbers of lekking males is difficult as possibly only 50% of males obtain matings (J. A. Kålås in litt. 2007).

Trend justification: Recent analyses suggest the European population has declined by 21.1% over three generations (BirdLife International in prep.).  The Scandinavian subpopulation appears stable, despite a 24-25% decline in Sweden between 2009-18 (BirdLife International in prep.). Between 1980-2018, the population in Norway and Sweden has declined by 15-19% (Wetlands International, 2021). The Western Siberian & NE European subpopulation, which makes up to 90% of the global population, appears to be declining. A 21-29% during 2009-18 has been reported in Russia, which comprises >80% of the European population, as well as a 22-25% decline in Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia (Birdlife International (in prep.)). Mongin & Davidyonok (2019) have reported reductions in the number of lekking males in Belarus at a rate of >5% per year. Data from Asian Russia is limited but it is thought that the population there may be declining (R. Ekblom in litt. 2015, V. Morozov per A. Mischenko in litt. 2015), and overall a moderately rapid reduction is still suspected. An expansion has been noted in the north of the Moscow Region since the 1990s (Sviridova et al., 2018). From this knowledge, it is reasonable to suspect a 20-29% reduction over the past three generations.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant uncertain
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native yes
Angola extant native yes
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant uncertain yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahrain extant native yes
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant vagrant
Benin extant native yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Botswana extant native yes
British Indian Ocean Territory extant vagrant
Bulgaria extant native yes
Burkina Faso extant native yes
Burundi extant native yes
Cameroon extant native yes
Central African Republic extant native yes yes
Chad extant native yes
Congo extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native yes
Côte d'Ivoire extant native yes
Croatia extant native
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes
Egypt extant native yes
Equatorial Guinea extant uncertain yes yes
Eritrea extant native yes
Estonia extant native yes
Ethiopia extant native yes yes
Finland extant native yes
France extant native yes
Gabon extant native yes
Gambia extant native yes yes
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Ghana extant native yes
Greece extant native yes yes
Guinea extant native yes
Guinea-Bissau extant native yes
Hungary extant native yes
India extant vagrant
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Ireland extant vagrant
Israel extant native yes
Italy extant native yes yes
Jordan extant vagrant
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native yes yes
Kuwait extant native yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant native yes
Lebanon extant native yes
Liberia extant native yes
Libya extant native yes
Liechtenstein extant uncertain yes
Lithuania extant native yes
Luxembourg extant vagrant
Malawi extant native yes
Mali extant native yes
Malta extant native yes
Mauritania extant native yes
Moldova extant native yes yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant vagrant
Mozambique extant native yes
Myanmar extant vagrant
Namibia extant native yes
Netherlands extinct vagrant
Nigeria extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Oman extant vagrant yes
Palestine extant native yes
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant vagrant
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Rwanda extant native yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Senegal extant native yes
Serbia extant native yes
Seychelles extant vagrant
Sierra Leone extant native yes
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant vagrant yes
South Africa extant native yes
South Sudan extant native yes
Spain extant vagrant
Sri Lanka extant vagrant yes
Sudan extant native yes
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) extant vagrant
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant uncertain yes
Syria extant native yes
Tanzania extant native yes
Togo extant native yes
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Uganda extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant vagrant yes
United Kingdom extant vagrant
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Yemen extant vagrant yes
Zambia extant native yes
Zimbabwe extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Armenia Amasia
Belarus Al'manskija baloty
Belarus Biarezina-Hajna
Belarus Biarezinski zapaviednik
Belarus Bierazino
Belarus Brody
Belarus Dniepr floodplain Lojeŭ-Žary
Belarus Dražbitka-Svina
Belarus Hronava
Belarus Liasnaja river
Belarus Mid Prypiac'
Belarus Prypiackija baloty
Belarus Sož floodplain
Belarus Sporaŭskaje balota
Belarus Vyhanaščanskija baloty
Estonia Alam-Pedja
Estonia Kärevere
Estonia Koiva-Mustjõe
Estonia Ropka-Ihaste
Estonia Soomaa
Estonia Struuga floodplain
Estonia Väinameri
Ethiopia Sululta plain
Finland Konnunsuo
Georgia Adjara-Imereti Ridge
Kenya Busia grasslands
Kenya Mau Narok - Molo grasslands
Latvia Berzpils bogs and flood-plains
Latvia Burga meadows
Latvia Dviete flood-plain
Latvia Kuja
Latvia Ruja flood-plain
Latvia Sita and Pededze flood-plain
Latvia Vidusburtnieks
Latvia Ziemelgauja
Lithuania Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve
Lithuania Flooded meadows near Sausgalviai settlement
Lithuania Nemunas delta regional Park
Lithuania Svyla River valley
Malawi Lake Chilwa and flood-plain
Mozambique Gorongosa Mountain and National Park
Namibia Tsumkwe pan system
Norway Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella
Norway Dovrefjell
Norway Hardangervidda
Norway Øvre Forra
Poland Augustów forest
Poland Biebrza river valley
Poland Chelm calcareous marshes
Poland Gródek-Michalowo basin
Poland Lower Narew River Valley
Poland Narew river gaps
Poland Szyszla River Valley
Poland Tyszowce Site
Poland Upper Narew River Valley
Poland Wizna Swamps
Romania Danube Delta
Romania Jijiei şi Miletinului fish-ponds
Russia (Asian) Bol'shoye Konoshchel'ye island and adjacent Yenisey river floodplain
Russia (Central Asian) Baturino-Simansky area
Russia (Central Asian) East slope of the Northern Ural
Russia (Central Asian) East slope of the Northern Ural
Russia (Central Asian) Lower Ob'
Russia (Central Asian) Molebny Kamen' ridge
Russia (Central Asian) Pershinsko-Manatkinsky area
Russia (Central Asian) Poyasovy Kamen' ridge
Russia (Central Asian) Shestakovskie of a bog 2
Russia (Central Asian) Shestakovskiye marshes
Russia (Central Asian) Taezhno-Mikhaylovsky
Russia (Central Asian) Watershed of the Mulym'ya and Bolshoy Tap rivers
Russia (European) Adovo-Chugrumski wetland
Russia (European) Bulgarski
Russia (European) Dedinovo flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Delta of the Kuban' river
Russia (European) Delta of the River Don
Russia (European) Druzhinnoe lake and its outskirts
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Lukh river between Myt and Mugreevo-Nikol'skoye villages
Russia (European) Flood-plain of rivers Usta and Vaya in Urenski district
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Vad river
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Volkhov river
Russia (European) Floodplain of Pjana river near village Sarga
Russia (European) Homeland of the Crane (Dubna marshes and adjacent areas)
Russia (European) Iremel'ski mountain
Russia (European) Islands in the western part of Lake Manych-Gudilo
Russia (European) Izhevsk flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Kaltasinski forest
Russia (European) Kamsko-Bakaldinskiye marshes
Russia (European) Kamsko-Yayvenski wetland
Russia (European) Klyazminski reserve
Russia (European) Kologrivski forest
Russia (European) Korodyn'k Creek Great Snipe Lek
Russia (European) Krasnokamski forest
Russia (European) Kumikushski wetland
Russia (European) Kurnikov liman
Russia (European) Kvarkush and Zolotoy Kamen' ridges
Russia (European) Lake Il'men and adjoining marshy plain
Russia (European) Manturovo left bank of the Unzha river
Russia (European) Nizhnekamskaya flood-plain
Russia (European) North part of Volgogradski reservoir
Russia (European) Nothern part of Gor'koe reservoir with spurs
Russia (European) Pereluchski Nature Reserve
Russia (European) Siz'menski flood-plain of Sheksna reservoir
Russia (European) Solotcha flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Spassk flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Stakhovski marshes
Russia (European) Upper Mologa river (lake Verestovo)
Russia (European) Valley of Sysola river
Russia (European) Vicinity of the Vozhe lake and Charonda marshes
Russia (European) Watershead of Atsvezh and Yuma rivers
Russia (European) Watershed of Tsna and Vysha rivers
Russia (European) Yamantau mountain
Russia (European) Yugyd Va
Russia (European) Zavidovo Reserve, including Lotoshinski, Klinski and Diatlovo fish ponds
Sweden Frostviken
Sweden Lake Ånn – Storlien
Sweden Middagsfjället – Dörrshöjden
Sweden Tavvavouma
Sweden Vindel Mountains (including Lake Tärna)
Tanzania Moyowosi - Kigosi Game Reserves
Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake George
Uganda Semliki National Park
Ukraine Korotchenkivs'ki meadows
Ukraine Mzha river valley
Ukraine Pryp'yat' river valley
Ukraine Styr' river valley (Kolky village)
Ukraine Syvash Bay
Ukraine Turiya river valley
Zambia Bangweulu Swamps
Zambia Barotse Floodplains
Zambia Chisamba
Zambia Chitunta Plain
Zambia Hillwood
Zambia Kafue Flats
Zambia Kafue National Park
Zambia Kalungwishi
Zambia Lavushi Manda National Park
Zambia Nkanga River Conservation Area
Zambia Saise River
Zambia Shiwa Ng'andu
Zambia South Luangwa National Park
Zambia Uningi Pans
Zambia West Lunga National Park and Lukwakwa Game Management Area

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land unset non-breeding
Grassland Subarctic major breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude major non-breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded major non-breeding
Grassland Tundra major breeding
Savanna Dry suitable non-breeding
Shrubland Boreal suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands major breeding
Wetlands (inland) Tundra Wetlands (incl. pools and temporary waters from snowmelt) major breeding
Altitude 0 - 2600 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Natural system modifications Dams & water management/use - Dams (size unknown) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Great Snipe Gallinago media. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/great-snipe-gallinago-media on 24/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 24/11/2024.