Regular wintering of Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) in NW Italian heathland habitat

Abstract

The regularization of the wintering status of the Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) in NW Italy has been confirmed for the first time within the heathland of the “Baraggia di Candelo Natural Reserve” (Piedmont, Biella). Regular monitoring from winter 2009/2010 to winter 2015/2016 allowed to describe the phenology and the abundance of the species in the area comparing it with that of an ally species, the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). A maximum count of 6 birds during winter and at least 13 individuals during the spring migration were recorded. The species was more abundant during the second 10-day period of November and the first 10-day period of March. Jack Snipe outnumber the Common Snipe throughout the period they were censused.