Species Focus: Snipe

Species Facts

Conservation status: Wiltshire: Declining

U.K: Amber

Europe: Least Concern

Global: Least Concern

U.K. Population: 76,000 pairs (breeding) 1,000,000 individuals (wintering)

U.K. Population trend: 31% breeding range loss in 25 years

Typical Lifespan: 3 years

Maximum age from ringing: 16 years 0 month 09 days

The Snipe has always been a scarce breeder in Wiltshire, favoring more northern counties to breed. The scattering of records on the breeding map show it is by no means common in Wiltshire. In the winter in becomes much more widespread in the county. The wintering population is the main cause for concern with this species, the declines first noted in the 19th century continues today.

The map to the right show that birds ringed in Wiltshire on migration (green lines) seem to winter in Spain and the continent; perhaps provide a clue as where Wiltshire breeding birds spend the winter. Birds recovered in the county in winter (red lines) seem to breed and migrate through northern and eastern Europe.

Draining of farmland in the 1960's and 70's led to rapid decline of the species as a breeding bird nationally. Other factors such as prey abundance may also be playing a part in the continued decline. As a legal quarry species there is pressure on some populations in winter from shooting.