I didn't know of the existence of this bird until one day in early June. I was driving away from a trail and saw a strange looking bird sitting atop a fence post with a very long bill. There was something odd about its face but I couldn't identify exactly what. It had a plump body and a stubby tail. The bird just looked goofy to me and I was immediately intrigued. What bird was this? What was the purpose of having such a long bill? Was it a yearround resident or was it a migrant?

After I got home I dove into some research and identified it as the Wilson's Snipe. Being a very elusive bird, it's not one that you can reliably find on any given day. On subsequent birding trips, I quickly learned that I couldn't go searching for it, so much as I had to wait for it to come to me.

You've probably heard of the phrase "go on a snipe hunt" as a way to keep kids occupied, or to otherwise pull a prank on somebody or give them a fool's errand...

Watch Wilson's Snipes foraging, bathing and preening with no commentary here:    • Wilson's Snipes Foraging, Bathing and...  

Chapters:
An intriguing new bird 00:00
Taxonomy: What's in a name? 01:29
Habitat 02:45
Similar Species 03:12
Eyes 03:38
Long Bill 04:35
Cryptic Color Pattern 05:15
Fast Flyers 05:38
What is winnowing? 06:13
Nesting 07:04
Migration 07:47
Conservation 08:05
Conclusion 08:44

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Photos and videos from free use sites, name and site credited in video.
Canva.com
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Wikipedia Creative Commons License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Flickr.com
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Winnowing sound clip:
Martin StMichel XC179591 https://xenocanto.org/179591

Thumbnail photo credit: All Things Birdie

Photo of Wilson's snipe feeding in mud: Wikipedia by Bettina Arrigoni

Have you found an injured or orphaned bird or wildlife?
Do a quick search for a wildlife rehabilitation clinic in your area. They will tell you what to do. If you can't find one, contact a local veterinarian and see if they know who to contact. Do not attempt to rehabilitate a bird or animal on your own.