Home › Aves › Rostratulidae › Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)
SPECIES PROFILE
Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)
Rostratula
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia Africa
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes rice fields with vegetation
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Rostratulidae
GENUS
Rostratula
📋 Description
SIZE
25-28 cm long 90-150 g
COLORATION
Females colorful with chestnut neck males duller
ADAPTATIONS
Long bill for probing polyandrous breeding
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes rice fields with vegetation
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia Africa
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-5 eggs in ground nests incubated 15-21 days by males
DIET DETAILS
Insects worms small crustaceans
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Wetland drainage pesticide use
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Painted Probing: Greater Painted-Snipes probe with 120-gram bodies eating 30 grams of insects daily in Bharatpur's wetlands. Females' colors are vibrant.
2
Polyandrous Waders: These snipes cover 2000 sq km in Odisha's marshes with males incubating eggs. Habitat loss threatens their nesting sites.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan wetlands host greater painted-snipe sightings
Chilika Lake in Odisha marshes offer greater painted-snipe sightings
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat wetlands have greater painted-snipe sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season concentrates prey for spotting painted-snipes
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch greater painted-snipes probing in shallow wetlands
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