Extremely Rare Adult Pin-tailed Snipe in Winter Plumage!! Swinhoe's Snipe, Common Snipe (video)
I managed to find a Pin-tailed Snipe that has moulted into winter plumage!! I picked it out from among 40 snipe together with Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe. I had been searching with the belief that "there should still be Pin-tailed Snipe around," and the fact that the bird I finally found was an adult that had already finished moulting its scapulars and tertials into winter plumage made the moment even better!! A genuinely rare Pin-tailed Snipe in winter plumage.
Among the snipe still present, Swinhoe's Snipe numbered a few individuals; the rest were all Common Snipe.
Behold!! The splendid appearance of this adult Pin-tailed Snipe cloaked in winter plumage!!
The Pin-tailed Snipe caught a small earthworm-like creature. Same individual as above.
A Pin-tailed Snipe scratching its head. Displaying an otherworldly level of adorableness. Same individual as above.
Reward time. The primaries are still old feathers; some of the primary coverts appear to have already moulted. Same individual as above.
Ultimate reward time. The tail feathers of Pin-tailed Snipe are rarely seen, but all the staking out paid off. It's showing off those needle-thin tail feathers as if to say, take that. Same individual as above.
A Pin-tailed Snipe in winter plumage — a completely different impression from juvenile plumage or late summer plumage of adults.
Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile. A couple of first-winter feathers have come in. Quite a late moult for Swinhoe's Snipe.
Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile. This individual's moult is more advanced than the one above.
Swinhoe's Snipe first-winter.
Swinhoe's Snipe first-winter and Greater Painted-snipe adult male.
Common Snipe juvenile.
Also a Common Snipe juvenile.