The Avifauna of Micronesia, Its Origin, Evolution, and Distribution

by Rollin H. Baker

Gallinago gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus)

Common Snipe

Scolopax Gallinago Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, 1758, p. 147. (Europe, restricted type locality, Sweden.)

Capella gallinago roddei Takatsukasa and Yamashina, Dobutsu. Zasshi, 44, 1932, p. 224 (Saipan).

Capella gallinago gallinago Hand-list Japanese Birds, rev., 1932, p. 193 (Saipan); Hand-list Japanese Birds, 3d ed., 1942, p. 216 (Saipan).

Gallinago gallinago Mayr, Birds Southwest Pacific, 1945, p. 44 (Saipan).

Geographic range.—Breeds in northern Eurasia. Winters in southern part of breeding range and south to Africa and east to Malaysia. In Micronesia: Mariana Islands—Saipan.

Remarks.—From Micronesia there is a single record of the taking of this bird at Saipan, apparently by Japanese collectors. It is probably an occasional straggler to the area, but owing to its similarity to Gallinago megala it may not often be recognized in the field.