Australian Painted-snipe
A species of Old World Painted-snipes Scientific name : Rostratula australis Genus : Old World Painted-snipes
Australian Painted-snipe, A species of Old World Painted-snipes
Botanical name: Rostratula australis
Genus: Old World Painted-snipes
Content
Description General Info
Description
The head, neck and upper breast is chocolate brown (in the male, dark grey with a buff median stripe on the crown), fading to rufous in the centre of the hindneck and merging to dark, barred grey on the back. There is a cream comma-shaped mark around the eye. A white stripe on the side of the breast and over the shoulders is diagnostic. The upperwing is grey (with buff spots in the male). The lower breast and underbody are white. Males are generally slightly smaller and less bright than females. Juveniles are similar to adult males. No call has been recorded. The length ranges from 24 to 30 cm, the wingspan from 50 to 54 cm, the weight from 125 to 130 g. 
Size
30 cm
Feeding Habits
Australian Painted-snipe predominantly consumes wetland invertebrates, including worms, molluscs, insects, and crustaceans, complemented by seeds and vegetation. They forage by probing the ground and display unique adaptations for locating hidden prey in their marshy habitats.
Habitat
The australian Painted-snipe typically inhabits shallow freshwater wetlands, which may include a mix of permanent and ephemeral environments such as lakes, swamps, and grasslands that are prone to flooding. These areas are characterized by dense vegetation like grasses, sedges, rushes, and reeds, often accompanied by sparser shrubbery or trees. Australian Painted-snipe is also known to adapt to human-altered landscapes, including agricultural irrigation areas and sewage treatment zones.
Dite type
Aquatic invertebrate eater
General Info
Distribution Area
The Australian painted-snipe is endemic to Australia, though its distribution is patchy and its presence in any particular area is unpredictable. A previous stronghold was the Riverina. It frequents shallow, freshwater wetlands with a thick cover of low vegetation, disappearing when conditions become unsuitable.
Species Status
The species has declined drastically during the 20th century and is rare throughout its range. Causes of the decline are ascribed to wetland drainage, river management and salinisation, as well as grazing and trampling of wetlands by stock. Estimates of the total population range from a few hundred to a few thousand. In Australia it is classified as being nationally threatened with a rating of Vulnerable. The IUCN recently split the species and treats it as endangered.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Painted-snipes Genus
Old World Painted-snipes Species
Australian Painted-snipe 
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