Jan 2

Bird of the day

South American painted-snipe

Nycticryphes semicollaris

The South American painted-snipe (Nycticryphes semicollaris), or lesser painted-snipe, is a shorebird in the family Rostratulidae. There are two other species in its family, the Australian painted-snipe and the greater painted-snipe.

Head and neck dark red-brown with a yellow stripe on the crown; upperparts dark grey-brown, spotted white; underparts white. Although the female may be slightly larger and brighter, in contrast to the two other species in the family, the South American painted-snipe is not strongly sexually dimorphic. It has a relatively long, decurved, bill. It has webbed feet, also a difference from the other painted snipe. Measurements: 19–23 cm in length; 65–86 g in weight.

A hoarse, hissing "wee-oo" has been recorded from birds in captivity.

Aliases

Nycticryphes semicollaris

Range

Range map of South American painted-snipe

Data retrieved on October 15, 2025 at 5:31 AM