Rostratulidae

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | 632 words | Copyright

Rostratulidae (painted snipe; class Aves, family Charadriiformes) A family of medium-sized wading birds which have olive-brown, grey, black, and white, cryptically coloured upper-parts, whitish underparts, and a white central crown stripe. One species has chestnut sides to its head. Females are brighter than males. The bill is long and slightly decurved, the neck and tail are short, the wings are broad, and the legs are long with long toes. Painted snipe are solitary and secretive, inhabit marshes, feed on invertebrates, and nest on the ground. There are two monotypic genera, found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and S. America.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Rostratulidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Rostratulidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Rostratulidae.html

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