Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe

About the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe

The rufous-bellied seedsnipe (Attagis gayi) is a bird in suborder Scolopaci of order Charadriiformes, the shorebirds. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. The rufous-bellied seedsnipe shares its genus with the white-bellied seedsnipe (A. malouinus). They and the other two seedsnipes are closely related to the sandpipers of family Scolopacidae. It has three subspecies, the nominate A. g. gayi, A. g. latrelillii, and A. g. simonsi. At least one publication has suggested that A. g. latrelillii might deserve to be recognized as a species.

The rufous-bellied seedsnipe's specific epithet commemorates the French naturalist Claude Gay. The rufous-bellied seedsnipe is 27 to 30 cm (11 to 12 in) long and weighs about 280 to 400 g (9.9 to 14 oz). The sexes are alike. The nominate subspecies' upperparts have an intricate scallop pattern of rufous-brown and blackish; its underparts are unmarked pale pinkish cinnamon. Subspecies A. g. latrelillii has a deeper rufous cinnamon than the nominate in its vent area and a scalloped breast. A. g. simonsi's breast is a darker pinkish cinnamon than the nominate's; it is paler above with... Wikipedia →