Page 83 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends

Snipe Japanese

(Gallinago hardwickii)

Body length is 20–30 cm. Weight ranges from 150–230 g. Width of last tail feathers reaches
5–6 mm. The back is dark, the abdomen is variegated. The plumage of the lower part of the
wing is gray. This species is characterized by a long, thin, straight beak, rather long legs and
relatively long wings.
It feeds on terrestrial and aquatic insects, their larvae, spiders, worms, and cereal seeds.
Lives in Japan, in Primorye, on the Kuril Islands, in the central, southern and parts of
the northern regions of Sakhalin. Breeds at the mouth of the river Little Veni, and along the
western coast of Sakhalin — to the mouth of the river Arkovo. On Sakhalin, it inhabits quite
diverse biotopes located in river valleys, on the slopes of hills and on the sea coasts. Most
often found in floodplain and coastal forb meadows.

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