The Great or Solitary Snipe — Gallinago Major (J. F. Gmelin)
A few individuals of this species, chiefly immature birds, visit our south and east counties yearly in autumn. Over the rest of the United Kingdom it is an exceedingly rare and irregular visitor.
It breeds in Scandinavia and across Northern Europe, extending southwards into Russia, Poland, and North Germany; over the rest of Europe east of the Rhone Valley it is common on migration and during the winter months.
It may be distinguished from the Common Snipe by its larger size, proportionately shorter legs and bill, and more boldly barred under parts. It has sixteen or more tail feathers. Length 10·5 in.; bill 2·3 in.; wing 5·5 in.