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Sexing Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago in the field using biometric criteria

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Pages
10 – 13

Published
1 April 11

Authors
Radosław Włodarczyk, Piotr Minias, Patrycja Gogga, Krzysztof Kaczmarek, Magdalena Remisiewicz, Tomasz Janiszewski

Correspondence
Radosław Włodarczyk
wradek@biol.uni.lodz.pl
Department of Teacher Training and Biodiversity Studies, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland.

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The Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago is a common inland wader caught at many ringing stations across Central and Western Europe during autumn migration. But sex determination is not easy in live birds because the species has no clear sexual dimorphism. This is an impediment to studies of its ecology. During 2005–2009, we measured various external features of 1,343 Common Snipes caught at Jeziorsko Reservoir in central Poland (51°40’N, 18°40’E), to determine the utility of measurements in determining sex. We chose a random sample of 284 birds for DNA sexing from blood samples. Discriminant analysis of their measurements showed that the length of the outermost rectrix was the most useful trait in sexing adult Common Snipes. Bill-length, the length of the outermost rectrix and the distance between the tips of the two outermost rectrices were helpful in sexing first-year birds. Discriminant procedures allowed for the correct sexing of about 80% of adult and immature Common Snipes.