A typical wader, the Snipe needs mudflats to probe its long beak into the soft ground searching for worms. It can sit motionless for long periods of time, before venturing out amongst the reeds and flag irises probing for food. It is a medium sized wader with a brown coloured striped head , extremely long beak and a dark brown back with long creamy coloured stripes. When motionless it blends in with its surroundings remarkably well.