75. Greater painted-snipe (ಬಣ್ಣದ ಉಲ್ಲಂಕಿ - Bannada Ullanki)

Greater painted-snipe Male - ಬಣ್ಣದ ಉಲ್ಲಂಕಿ - Bannada Ullanki

The greater painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) (Kannada Name: ಬಣ್ಣದ ಉಲ್ಲಂಕಿ - Bannada Ullanki) is a species of wader in the family Rostratulidae. It is found in marshes in Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia.

Greater painted-snipe Female - ಬಣ್ಣದ ಉಲ್ಲಂಕಿ - Bannada Ullanki

Medium-sized, plump wading bird. Long reddish-brown bill, slightly decurved at tip, and distinct white or pinkish eye patch. Rounded, buff-spotted wings and short tail. White of breast extends up around top of folded wing. The painted-snipe is not related to the true snipes and differs from them in habits, flight and appearance, being far more colorful and having longer legs than the snipes. It is unusual in that the female is larger and more brightly colored than the male, with the sides of the head, neck and throat a rich chestnut brown, and a distinct black band across the breast; the male is paler and greyer.

Types of Sandpipers found in Mysuru:

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 43 species which occur in India and 29 species occur in Karnataka.

• Green sandpiper
• Wood sandpiper
• Greater Painted Snipe