Unusual bird sighting in Almaty sparks debate over rare Swinhoe's snipe

An unusual bird sighting in Almaty has captured the attention of local residents, sparking a lively debate online about its identity. A video shared by a local resident, filmed at the intersection of Karasai Batyr and Manas Streets, shows the bird, with the caption "Something new in Almaty! Karasai Batyr and Manas."

Following the post, social media users began speculating about the bird's species. A significant number of commenters suggested it might be the rare Swinhoe's snipe, a species not commonly seen. This speculation prompted an inquiry to ornithologist Viktoria Kovshar for expert clarification.

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I wouldn't venture to say exactly which sandpiper it is. I'm not sure who identified it so confidently as a Swinhoe's snipe. Generally speaking, the Swinhoe's snipe is a very rare find, though its appearance in the city is entirely possible.

Kovshar indicated that the bird in the footage likely belongs to the sandpiper family. However, she expressed caution about definitively identifying it as a Swinhoe's snipe based solely on the video. "I wouldn't venture to say exactly which sandpiper it is. I'm not sure who identified it so confidently as a Swinhoe's snipe. Generally speaking, the Swinhoe's snipe is a very rare find, though its appearance in the city is entirely possible," Kovshar stated.

She also consulted with Fyodor Karpov, an experienced field ornithologist, who believes the recording most likely shows a common snipe. While acknowledging that encountering a Swinhoe's snipe in the city is improbable, Kovshar did not entirely rule out the possibility. She explained that some sandpipers pass through Almaty during migration, and although they typically avoid urban areas, they can sometimes be found in unexpected locations, particularly if caught by daylight during nocturnal migration.

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The fact is that many sandpipers fly over the city; they try to bypass it, but not always. Snipes, in particular, often fly along the foothills. They are nocturnal migrants and can be caught by dawn or daylight in places that are uncharacteristic for them.