The Jack Snipe is a small, migratory bird that visits the UK in the winter. 

Appearance & Behaviour

The Jack Snipe has impressive camouflage for a wading bird, with a brown upper body and white chest and thin dark streaks across their body. They have short bills with a relatively deeper base (especially when compared to the Common Snipe).

Secretive in nature, the Jack Snipe tends to stick to places where there is cover and unless migrating, they will only fly short distances before heading back to the safety of vegetation. When approached, the Jack Snipe will choose to hide in vegetation by crouching down, before flying off at the last minute, often causing a fright for observers. 

Whilst feeding, many people watch Jack Snipe bounces up and down, a motion that makes it seem like its little legs are on springs. It’s thought that this motion is used to disturb invertebrates living in the ground. 

As just winter visitors to the UK, Jack Snipes migrate back to their breeding grounds when April comes around, and head back to the UK, and other areas of Europe. 

Jack Snipe VS Common Snipe

One of the most notable differences between the Jack Snipe and the more familiar Common Snipe, is the size. Jack Snipes are around two thirds smaller, making them a really small wading bird.

The Jack Snipe has a thin dark crown, without a pale band down the middle, whereas the Common Snipe tend to have a golden crown stripe. Jack Snipes also have a pale band across their eyes that is split by a thin dark line (making it look like they have eyebrows!)

The Jack Snipe has a distinctive bobbing motion while feeding, while the Common Snipe will sometimes bob slightly.

What Do Jack Snipes Eat?

The primary part of their diet consists of invertebrates, mainly ones that are found in the mud and shallow water of wetlands. This is anything from insects, worms and molluscs. 

When Insects fall short of what they need, they also rely on plant material, but this is never their go to!

At dusk, after resting for the day, the Jack Snipe will catch prey, they stick their well designed bill into the mud and use the bouncing motion (sort of like a sewing machine), this usually ends up in a good feast for them. 

Habitat

As a wading bird, Jack Snipes thrive in areas near water, which is why they are found in habitats like marshes, wet grasslands and muddy fringes of reedbeds. 

Jack Snipe's secretive nature means that if it also has thick vegetation, it’s the perfect habitat for the Jack Snipe! They need the cover to hide and protect themselves. 

In the UK, they spend the winter months on the coastal fringe, finding a home in damp lowland wetlands. 

Nesting & Breeding

Jack Snipes don’t breed in the UK, they head back to areas of Northern Europe for summer breeding.

To no surprise, secretive birds Jack Snipes like their nests to be as well hidden as possible, so when finding a spot, they find floating bogs, marshes or any other swampy area that boasts thick vegetation. 

The nest is a shallow depression in the ground and is lined with grass and leaves. When it’s time to breed, males will do an impressive aerial display in order to attract a mate. 

The females lay 3 - 4 olive coloured eggs, each of which have dark spots. The incubation period is 24 days, and this is carried out by the female. 

Once hatched, both parents take care of the babies, and in just three weeks, the young Jack Snipes are ready to fledge the nest. 

Threats & Predators

In the UK, Jack Snipes can face many threats, one of which is being another animal's choice of dinner. They mainly face predation from mammals and raptors, like foxes, owls and harriers!

Climate change and changes in land use is also a big issue. Habitat loss caused by the drainage of wetlands is causing them to have nowhere to create a home… They are still on the green conservation list so there is no current threat to the population. 

Five Fun Facts about Jack Snipes

1. Jack Snipes are known for their excellent camouflage, blending seamlessly with wetland vegetation, making them very hard to spot.

2. They have a unique bobbing or bouncing behaviour while feeding, which is thought to help them search for prey in the mud.

3. They are migratory birds, breeding in northern Europe and Siberia and visiting the UK mainly in winter between September and March.

4. These birds are extremely secretive, preferring to stay hidden in reed beds and marshy areas, making them a challenge for birdwatchers.

5. Jack Snipes are among the smallest waders in the UK, measuring just 17–19 cm in length with a wingspan of around 30–32 cm.