Editing Snipe (section)

{{short description|Common name for wading birds}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Paraphyletic group
| name = Snipe
| image = Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) (26144727151).jpg
| image_alt = Long-legged bird with long bill wading in marsh
| image_caption = [[Common snipe]] (''Gallinago gallinago'')
| auto = yes
| parent = Scolopacidae
| includes = 
* ''[[Lymnocryptes]]''
* ''[[Gallinago]]''
* ''[[Coenocorypha]]''
| includes_ref = 
| excludes = 
* ''[[Terek sandpiper|Xenus]]''
* ''[[Tringa]]''
* ''[[Scolopax]]''
* ''[[Prosobonia]]''
* ''[[Phalaropus]]''
* ''[[Numenius (bird)|Numenius]]''
* ''[[Limosa]]''
* ''[[Limnodromus]]''
* ''[[Calidris]]''
* ''[[Bartramia (bird)|Bartramia]]''
* ''[[Arenaria (bird)|Arenaria]]''
* ''[[Actitis]]''
| excludes_ref = 
}}

A '''snipe''' is any of about 26 [[wading bird]] species in three [[genus|genera]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Scolopacidae]]. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and [[crypsis|cryptic]]/[[camouflaging]] [[plumage]]. ''[[Gallinago]]'' snipe have a nearly worldwide distribution, the ''[[jack snipe|Lymnocryptes]]'' snipe is restricted to [[Asia]] and [[Europe]] and the ''[[Coenocorypha]]'' snipe is found only in the [[New Zealand Outlying Islands|outlying islands of New Zealand]].  The four species of [[painted snipe]] are not closely related to the typical snipe, and are placed in their own family, the Rostratulidae.