Subantarctic Snipe
A species of Austral snipes Scientific name : Coenocorypha aucklandica Genus : Austral snipes
Subantarctic Snipe, A species of Austral snipes
Botanical name: Coenocorypha aucklandica
Genus: Austral snipes
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Subantarctic snipe is a small wading bird with adults growing to about 23 cm (9 in) in length. It has cryptic brown plumage, sturdy legs and a slender beak about 5 cm (2 in) long. The head is striped in black and reddish brown and the body is brown, mottled with black and reddish brown. 
Size
24 cm
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Subantarctic Snipe consumes a variety of soil-dwellers, including earthworms, insects, and larvae. Subantarctic Snipe uses its bill to probe the soil and tussock bases, detecting prey by their movements. Larger items are manipulated before swallowing. Subantarctic Snipe feeds day and night, with nocturnal feeding in open areas.
Habitat
The habitat of subantarctic Snipe encompasses cool temperate and subantarctic island environments. These birds thrive in areas with dense vegetation, particularly within tussock grasslands on cliff tops and moist open woodlands. The habitat features a mosaic of dense undergrowth such as grass tussocks, mat-forming herbs, sedges, and shield ferns, as well as herb fields and scrubland. Subantarctic Snipe is notably prevalent in habitats with tall tussock grasses, sedges, and ferns thriving on damp peat.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
The Subantarctic snipe seldom flies, is relatively tame and nests on the ground and this puts it at risk of predation by land-based predators. It favours areas of dense ground cover and feeds on a range of invertebrates. It has a characteristic courtship display which takes place at night when males make vertical dives from considerable heights. Nesting takes place at different dates between August and January on the different islands.
Distribution Area
The Subantarctic snipe is endemic to certain islands to the south of New Zealand. Each island or group of islands has its own subspecies. New Zealand formerly had two mainland species of snipe, but both of these are extinct. The South Island snipe (C. iredalei) became extinct on Jacky Lee Island when the flightless weka was introduced and on Big South Cape Island(both the former and the latter muttonbird islands south of Stewart Island), its last refuge after black rats (Rattus rattus) arrived there in 1964. The last North Island Snipe (C. barrierensis) was seen in 1870 on Little Barrier Island. The Campbell Island Snipe (C. a. perseverance) were nearly extinguished but a few remained on an outlying islet and recolonised the main island when rats were exterminated there. A further two subspecies are the Antipodes snipe(C. a. meinertzhagenae) on the Antipodes Islands and the Auckland Island snipe(C. a. aucklandica) on the Auckland Islands. The Snares Island snipe (Coenocorypha huegeli) was formerly thought to be a subspecies of the Subantarctic snipe, but is now recognised as a separate species.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Sandpipers Genus
Austral snipes Species
Subantarctic Snipe 
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