Wilson's Snipe Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: Wilson's Snipe are one of the first "shorebirds" to arrive in South Dakota in the spring, and they're also a species that sticks around all summer. Because of that, they're probably the second-most common shorebird I run across throughout the year, other than the Killdeer. They're also one of the least "shy" birds you run across, often preferring to sit still and freeze when approached rather than flush or run away. I thus have a number of photos of the species, but my "favorite" has to be one of photos #13 through #19 below. Why? They're all the same bird! He practically BEGGED me for a starring, cover role here! For about 25 minutes, the same bird was foraging right in front of me, moving back and forth at extremely close range, evidently without a care in the world. Every time I thought he had finally drifted away out of camera range, he'd turn around and come back! OK buddy...here's your starring role. From April 19th, 2020 in northwestern Minnehaha County.

Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata


Wilson's Snipe 1 April 12th, 2003 Madison Waterfowl Production Area, SD	Wilson's Snipe 2 October 9th, 2006 Lake County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 3 October 9th, 2006 Lake County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 4 April 12th, 2003 Madison Waterfowl Production Area, SD

Wilson's Snipe 5 October 9th, 2006 Lake County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 6 April 15th, 2007 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 7 April 12th, 2012 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 8 April 12th, 2012 Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Wilson's Snipe 9 April 12th, 2012 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 10 April 7th, 2011 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 11 May 28th, 2018 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 12 April 23rd, 2020 Kingsbury County, South Dakota

Wilson's Snipe 13 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 14 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 15 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 16 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Wilson's Snipe 17 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 18 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 19 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota	Wilson's Snipe 20 April 19th, 2020 Minnehaha County, South Dakota