Growth of snipe chicks Gallinago gallinago.

Abstract

The growth of Snipe chicks was studied on lowland wet grassland in Cambridgeshire. The weight of newly hatched chicks was correlated with the estimated fresh weight of the eggs from which they hatched. Growth of weight and bill length is described and growth curves fitted. No significant diurnal variation in weight was detected. Bill length provides a useful means of estimating the age of Snipe chicks.