Greater painted snipe

Introduction: Greater painted-snipes (Rostratula benghalensis) inhabit pans and marshy river flood plains, dams and occasionally the seasonally flooded grassland and palm savannah of Ovamboland. They are usually solitary, in pairs or in small groups up to 15 with seasonal movements linked to rainfall.

Distribution: Etosha, Kunene River estuary, Caprivi, central and northern Namibia.

Diet: Worms, crustaceans, grasshoppers and crickets, snails and seeds.

Description: Greater-painted snipes have smaller bills than those of true snipes (Rostratula).

Breeding: Between 2 and 5 eggs are laid in a slight depression trodden down in vegetation in January, February and August. Incubation periods are around 16 days.

Size: 25cm.

Weight: 135g.