Greater Painted-snipe

Latin Name: 
Rostratula benghalensis
Category: 
Size: 
25cm
Description: 

Polyandrous. Breeing female: metallic-olive above, thickly marked buff and black; buff stripe down crown centre; chestnut throat, breast and sides of neck; white below breast. Breeding male: duller overall; lacks chestnut. Sexes difficult to distinguish when not in breeding plumage. Crepuscular and nocturnal; solitary or a few scattered birds; feeds in squelchy mud but also moves on drier ground; runs on landing.

Habitat: 
wet mud, marshes, such areas where there is a mix of open water, and heavy low cover.
Food: 
insects, crustaceans, molluscs, vegetable matter.
Distribution: 
resident throughout the area up to about 2,000m in the Himalaya.
Call: 
Call Description: 
common call a long-drawn, mellow note that can be likened to the noise made by blowing into a bottle mouth.
National Status: