identifying snipe

[PotHunter96]

Hi, was just wondering how to identify common snipe as the other week i flushed a small snipe sized bird, it got up about ten yards away and flew away fast zigzagging like a woodcock then when it got about 70 yards away it started to curve upwards until it was almost vertical, i beleive it was a common snipe but wasn't sure! Thoughts?

[joe1978]

AFAIK small woodcock = snipe.

I can't hit them anyway so ID is least of my problems. Haha

[Lampwick]

Don't forget small Snipe = Jack Snipe = protected!

[Tim Kelly]

Jack snipe fly differently to common snipe when they take off. I used to be able to tell the difference when I shot some land with snipe on it, but can't remember now. I expect if you google it you'll find out the difference. It is quite obvious when you flush them which is which.

[Lampwick]

Jack snipe fly differently to common snipe when they take off. I used to be able to tell the difference when I shot some land with snipe on it, but can't remember now. I expect if you google it you'll find out the difference. It is quite obvious when you flush them which is which.

They do and it sounds like the bird the OP describes was a Common! It is however worth knowing what and how a Jack looks like and flys like!

Gets up late, flys low and drops quickly. Absolutely beautiful birds!

[strangford wildfowler]

Doent matters to me as I can shoot jack and common snipe in NI

[Fal]

I find Jack Snipe always flush a lot later that common Snipe. I also find that common Snipe 9 times out of 10 make a noise when getting up Jack's are almost silent, they have different markings on thier backs.

[aister]

I always think that jack snipe get up late, tend not to go far before dropping in again, they are generally silent and remind me of a snipe with low batteries.

[karpman]

Yup it's all about the jizz of the bird with snipe and such. Unfortunately something that has to be learned.

 

If in doubt don't shoot. And oh there smaller than common not easy to pick up in flight though.

 

Karpman

[escortmagnum999]

jacks are a lot smaller, and already said common snipe make a fair racket when they get up

[PotHunter96]

This bird was silent when it took off, im pretty sure it was a common though,but didn't shoot because

i wasn't too sure

[RossEM]

Common snipe make an unmistakable repeated 'zipping' sound when they take off, jinking all over the place (normally staying low for the first 40 yards of flight) and you'll rarely see them land again. Jack snipe are silent and normally don't flush until you're right on top of them, then get up and land 50-100 yards ahead. Also they are tiny little birds, much smaller than the common variety.

[bruno22rf]

I usually use the same technique for deciding which is which- When I miss and destroy a small area of copse then its most likely a woodcock-If its a small patch of Reed bed that gets the full blast then the bird disappearing into the distance was most likely a Snipe.

Edited October 1, 2013 by bruno22rf

[Big Mat]

Doent matters to me as I can shoot jack and common snipe in NI

 

Well that helps the poor bloke distinguish between the two doesnt it

[Cottonseed]

I always think that jack snipe get up late, tend not to go far before dropping in again, they are generally silent and remind me of a snipe with low batteries.

 

Yes, that's a good description!

[scotslad]

The common almost always makes a 'scuap' type sound when it flushes, like others have said tends to fly different. Thats generally wot i use no sound i don't shoot but sometimes they will flush silent. Sure if u search the net or BASC pages might be a better quarry id guide mibee even with a recording off the noise

Hopefully got this right way round, but i think commons tend to zig zag side to side while jack tend to zig zag up and down.

 

There is a fair size difference between the 2 but remember distance will also make a difference to size ie common further away way look like a closer jack and vice versa.

 

To be honest it really is experience more than anything else, once u've seen a few u can usuallty tell, but any doubt just leave it, usaully common far outnumber jack on most 'snipey' places

Edited October 3, 2013 by scotslad