Fuegian Snipe

It is sporadically recorded in the Falkland Islands, where it has reputedly bred. However, here is only one recent record and the historical documentation of breeding is a lost specimen of questionable identity. The occurrences in these islands could therefore be due to either a tiny breeding population or vagrancy form the mainland.

The Fuegian Snipe is classified as Near Threatened (NT), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

The Fuegian Snipe makes a chip-chip-chip call, and has a sharp, far carrying char-woo in its display flight. The only other snipe with an overlapping range is the Magellan Snipe, Gallinago paraguiaiae. Compared with that species, Fuegian Snipe is obviously larger, with a heavy woodcock-like flight on broad wings which lack a white trailing edge. On the ground, it lacks the clear pale stripes of its smaller relative. More

The Fuegian Snipe forages by pushing its long bill deep into the mud seeking insects and worms. Its cryptic plumage provides effective camouflage when the bird stands motionless amongst marsh vegetation. Status The Fuegian Snipe has a population has been estimated at less than 10,000 individuals, but could be even smaller. There may be some declines in the north of its range, and this species has been classified as near-threatened. Copyright: Wikipedia. More

The Fuegian snipe is a poorly known wading bird from the rugged southern tip of South America (2) (3). Like other snipes, it is long billed and beautifully camouflaged, with a patterned plumage of rufous, dark brown and greyish buff (2) (4). The sexes are alike in appearance, with neither undergoing any seasonal changes, and the juveniles are broadly similar to the adults (2). More

The Fuegian snipe breeds in south-central Chile and Argentina, as far south as Tierra del Fuego (2) (3). - Found from sea-level up to 3,000 metres, in grassy or forested boggy areas with low scrub or rushes. These areas often form a mosaic comprising grassy bog, bamboo and lichen-clad dwarf forest (2) (3). More

The Fuegian Snipe is only a very rare vagrant to the Falkland Islands and I think even that is considered somewhat doubtful. I believe your photo is most likely of a Magallanic South American Snipe, but I only know this from what I read. The illustrations in the “Birds of Chile” would also seem to confirm this ID. More