the system of the snipe-birds is complicated. they are a very multifarious group of the Regenpfeiferartigen with approximately 85-87 types (in approximately 22 types).
Typical snipe-birds are: 1. the actual snipes (type Scolopax); with the 35 cm long forest-snipe, S. rusticola, the Canada-snipe, S. minor, as well as 4 further types from Asia and New Guinea; - 2. the Bekassinen or swamp-snipes; - 3. the dwarf-snipe (Lymnoeryptes minimus) big only 19 cm; - 4. the panorama-snipe (Chubbia jamesoni) from the Andes; - 5. the Pfuhlschnepfen (type Limosa); shore-snipe big with the 41 cm, L. limosa (from the restrained Eurasia); - 6. the mud-runners (type Limnodromus); among them the approximately 26-30 cm long short-beak-mud-runner, L. griseus (from west-Canada); - 7. the 16,5 cm long swamp-runner (Limicola falcinellus) from Northern Europe and Siberia. The generic term Limicola gave the name to all "beach-birds" or "Limikolen" under the Regenpfeiferartigen incidentally; - 8. the prairie-runner (Bartramia longicauda) of Alaska as far as in the southern USA. Further typical snipe-birds are the fight-runners, that sandpiper, the water-runners and the impressive curlews.
Physique Snipe-birds, who are at least as long as the head, have long, thin runs, a long neck and dainty, long moved out beaks. With some types, they are easily upward bent (types water-runners, Tringa, and Pfuhlschnepfen, Limosa) or bent (types mud-runners, Limnodromus and curlews, Numenius) more or less clearly downward. All snipe-birds locate its food taktil, d, mainly. h. with the sense of touch; therefore, the bone beak-top is dense busy with groups of Tastsinnesorganen (Herbstsche corpuscules).
As far as on the Sanderling (sandpipers), a rear-toe is trained with all snipe-birds. The plumage-coloring is quite inconspicuous with most types; Exceptions of it form fight-runners and the snipes of the type Limosa in the brood-dress. In the silence-dress against it, these types also look camouflage-colored.
Except for the actual snipes, snipe-birds brood the elderly and new world in the northern part and move far southwards (also over the equator) to the winter.
Actual snipes The snipes of the type Scolopax, that gave its scientific name to the whole family, are all bill high-specialized moderate-sized until big birds (wing-length over 17 cm) with one, the beak-length of this altogether 34-36 cm long and 0,2-0,4 kg of heavy forest-snipe, Z amounts. B. 6,7-8 cm. they have big, very far at the side standing eyes, with which forest-snipes and its relatives can overlook a view of 360° with one binokularen area (to the spatial seeing) each in the front and behind. The rear overlap-area is bigger than the fore one on that occasion.
The very short legs are with the actual snipes, including the runs, completely befiedert. From the toes, the 3 are fore long, while is the rear only short, and an almost completely re-educated claw carries. The wings are relatively shorter in the comparison to the other snipes and rounded off more at the tops.
Forest-snipes (Scolopax rusticola) are inhabitants of diversified forest-areas with ground-vegetation, in which they find coverage and food sufficiently. To the train and Balzzeit, the males fly noiselessly gliding along from clearings, forest paths and shore-areas (in the hunter-language): "Snipe-line." This mainly twilight - and night-active birds with big eyes move also only at night and last well hidden in dense coverage during the day.
Brood In sunset until a hour after it as well as in the dawn until a point before sunrise performs courtship display the forest-snipes. In Central Europe, the brood-period begins middle of March (2 yearly-broods) approximately. The nest consists of a ground-hollow laid out with dry plant-materials.
Forest-snipes usually put 4 (3-5) eggs, that are hatched by the female alone (from the last egg at) for 20-23 days. The boys slip with one dense, yellow and brown patterned Dunenkleid and already leave the nest as typical Nestflüchter shortly after the drying the Dunen. they are led by the female and can fly short routes already after 10 days. With 4 weeks, forest-snipes are well flown, they finally become independent after 5-6 weeks. The known maximum-age for forest-snipes amounts to over 12 years.
Endangering Forest-snipes are on the red list of the endangered types with us.
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