Madagascar Cassin
| Madagascar Cassin | ||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Gallinago macrodactyla | ||||||||
| Bonaparte , 1839 |
The Madagascar cassin or Madagascar snipe ( Gallinago macrodactyla ) is a species of bird in the family of snipe birds (Scolopacidae). It breeds exclusively in wetlands in the eastern half of Madagascar at altitudes from the coast to 2,700 meters above sea level . It occurs most often at altitudes over 700 meters. She is a resident .
description
The Madagascar cassin is a large, heavy snipe that becomes 29–32 cm long when fully grown, with a stocky body and relatively short legs. The top, head and neck are striped and patterned with wide dark stripes and golden brown feather edges. The stripes continue down the back. The belly is white with some brown bands on the flanks. The blackish bill is very long, straight and quite robust. Legs and feet are yellow-olive or greenish-gray. The sexes are similar and the juvenile males and females differ only in a few fringes on the elytra.
The call is a rough hlip when the birds take off. In the flight you can see narrow gray wing tips and a very dark underside of the wings.
The Madagascar cassin is endemic to Madagascar and is also the only species of snipe on the island.
behavior
The Madagascar cassin builds a cup-shaped nest out of dry grass in drier areas of the swampy breeding areas. The nest is covered with a thick pad of grass or rushes. The breeding season usually extends between July and January.
In courtship the bird shows a remarkable flight image with high circling flights and a powerful nosedive, during which a drum-like noise can be heard, which is caused by vibrations of the outer tail feathers.
The snipe sticks deep into the mud with its long beak in search of insects and worms. If it is frightened, it freezes and its camouflaging fletching dissolves its contours so that it visually merges with its surroundings. If the escape distance is not reached, it flees in a quick zigzag escape.
Hazard and protection
The bird is not common. The total population is estimated at 1,800–7500 specimens. The Madagascar snipe lives in small groups of four to eight animals.
The bird is endangered by the ongoing transformation of the swamps into rice-growing areas. At one of the largest wetlands in the distribution area, Lac Alaotra , for example, 250 km² of the 350 km² wetlands were converted into rice fields. The snipe is also hunted.
literature
- Hayman, Marchant and Prater, Shorebirds ISBN 0-395-37903-2
