Old World painted snipe
Quick Summary
The Old World painted snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) is one of two species of marsh birds in the family Rostratulidae. These birds are about 25 cm (10 inches) long, with a snipelike body and bill, and are characterized by bold brown and white markings. They are found from Africa to Australia and Japan, and are distinguished by yellowish "spectacles" around their eyes.1
In painted snipe species, the female is larger and more vibrantly colored than the male. The female initiates courtship, and the male typically handles most of the nesting duties. Painted snipes build ground nests, with the Old World painted snipe laying four eggs and the South American species laying two.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
