The Greater Painted-snipe appears to be a breeding summer visitor to our area, although there have been the odd mid-winter records. Given their unmistakable flight profile and propensity to fly between favoured feeding spots it seems most unlikely that they are overlooked in the winter. Soon after arrival several pairs may be seen close together with the dominant, larger and more brightly coloured females calling loudly and even fighting. The males are left to incubate the eggs and rear the chicks and, in autumn, groups may be seen again which include the young birds.

Painted-snipes like well developed grassy swamps and open marshy areas in reedbeds. Although they can be seen in small village marshes and borrow pits, it is the larger wetlands that attract the larger numbers. It feeds a lot at night and in the day often sits quietly in thick, low vegetation, usually only seen if it is flushed. It will come out onto open mud however and the careful observer can then obtain clear views. For a remarkably beautiful bird it can be surprisingly inconspicuous, the patterning of stripes breaking up the body’s outline even when it is in the open.