Wilson's Snipes

A Wilson's snipe shows off its tail feathers at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Showoff
The most famous bird to be named after a volleyball, Wilson's snipes should not be confused with Wesley's snipes, which don't exist.

Look them up in a bird guide and, depending on the age of the book, you may see them listed as common snipe instead of Wilson's. They had been considered a race of the common snipe of Eurasia but are now considered a separate species.

The birds themselves don't seem to have noticed the name change.


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Last modified: May 7, 2008