Subantarctic Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica

Small brown- and black-mottled wader with a long, slightly downcurved bill. The only snipe species known to occupy the Auckland, Campbell, and Antipodes Islands, with slight variations in size and markings between the three island subspecies. Prefers dense vegetation during the daytime. Male call often heard at dawn and dusk. Call is a “trerk trerk trerk” occasionally building to a “queeyoo queeyoo.” The Maori name (Hakawai) is given to their nocturnal aerial flight display, which includes a roaring sound of air vibrating through their spread tail feathers. Distinguished from possible vagrant Latham’s Snipe by smaller size and shorter wings and legs.