Chatham Islands Snipe Coenocorypha pusilla

The smallest snipe of New Zealand and the only snipe present on the Chatham Islands. A small, rotund wader with mottled brown and black plumage. Note long bill and pale lower breast and belly. Confined to Mangere, Little Mangere, Rangatira, Rabbit Islands, Star Keys, and sometimes Pitt Island. Found in dense vegetation during the day but more active at night when it moves to more open habitat. Male call is a loud “chup chup” which gradually builds to a “queeyoo queeyoo.” Harsher “chep” alarm call often heard at night. Can be heard at night performing a unique flight display known by the Maori name “hakawai.”