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Subject:

Wilson's Snipe

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 08:14:17 -0400

With regard to Common/Wilson's Snipe, Betsy True asks:

> Was there a name change?  Should I change my earlier notation 
> of common to Wilson's?


Betsy, 

In the FORTY-THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’
UNION CHECK-LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS, published in 2002, the AOU Check-
List Committee decided to split Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) from 
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago).  Their reasoning follows:

Because of differences in the winnowing
display sounds and morphology (Tho¨nen 1969, Miller
1996), Gallinago delicata (Wilson’s Snipe) is recognized
as a species distinct from the OldWorld G. gallinago,
which retains the name Common Snipe. 

Insert the following before the account for G. gallinago:

Gallinago delicata (Ord). Wilson’s Snipe.
Scolopax delicata Ord, 1825, in reprint Wilson, American
Ornithology, 9, p. ccxviii (Pennsylvania.)

Habitat.—Wet grassy areas, from tundra to temperate 
lowlands.

Distribution.—as the delicata group in account of
G. gallinago.

Notes.—Formerly considered part of G. gallinago
because of overall morphological similarities (Oberholser
1921), but now separated on the basis of differences
in winnowing display sounds associated
with differences in the outer tail feathers (Tho¨nen
1969, Tuck 1972, Miller 1996) that are comparable to
differences between other closely related species in
the genus.

Modify the account of Gallinago gallinago by removing
references to the delicata group. Change
Notes to read: Formerly included G. delicata, now
considered distinct. South American and African
taxa also have been considered conspecific with, or
closely related to, G. gallinago by some authors, but
are now generally treated as distinct (e.g. Fjeldsa° and
Krabbe 1990).




So the answer is yes, change Common Snipe in your database to Wilson's 
Snipe (unless, of course you saw your Common Snipe in the British Isles or 
northern Eurasia.  Since the AOU elected to leave Common Snipe on the North 
American Check-List as well, I must assume there have been sightings in 
Canada or perhaps in Alaska.  To my knowledge there are no Common Snipe 
sightings in the Lower 48, but if I'm wrong, I'm sure someone here will be 
happy to correct me.  I hope this helps!

Norm Saunders