Where do they live?

Australian Painted-Snipes are freshwater birds that inhabit different types of shallow, brackish, or freshwater terrestrial wetlands. They can be found living on the fringes of swamps, dams and nearby marshy areas. They prefer areas with diverse low, patchy vegetation. 

Scientists don't know a lot about this species, but it is thought to be either migratory or nomadic in response to environmental conditions.

What do they eat?

Australian Painted-Snipes forage in shallow water at night, mostly on freshwater invertebrates such as worms, molluscs, and insects, as well as some plant matter such as seeds.

What do they look like?

Australian Painted-Snipes are waders, so they have long thin legs with long toes. This helps them step through shallow water and muddy dirt. They have long bills which they use to probe at soft mud to find seeds and small invertebrates.

Males and females have quite different colouring. Males show cooler grey and brown tones with fine barring, a pale eye‑mark and a striking mix of olive‑green and golden highlights across the wings. Females are noticeably richer in colour, with deeper browns, a warm rufous hindneck and darker, finely barred upperparts.

How can you support Australian Painted Snipes?

• Manage household chemicals: Use minimal amounts of fertilisers and pesticides on lawns, and wash cars with water or eco-friendly soap to prevent chemicals from washing into storm drains. 
• Keeping pets indoors, especially at night: Roaming dogs and cats are one of the largest threats to Australian Painted Snipes and other native wildlife. 
• Get involved in citizen science: Use apps like iNaturalist to help researchers track where birds are occurring and how populations are changing over time.   
• Fish responsibly: be aware when casting your line and always dispose of fishing line and hooks properly. 
• Report foxes: If you see a fox on the Northern Beaches, report it to FoxScan. 

Fun facts 

• When they feel threatened, males will attempt to appear larger and more striking in colour by spreading their wings low to the ground, lifting the tail, and sometimes letting out a sharp hiss. 
• After laying eggs, the female leaves males to incubate the eggs and care for the young whilst she moves on to find a new partner to mate with.