Long-billed skulking shorebird of muddy edges in freshwater wetlands. Breeds in Japan and spends the nonbreeding season mainly in eastern Australia. When disturbed it erupts from cover with loud "chek" call and zig-zags away in flight. Can be extremely hard to identify from other Australian snipes (Pin-tailed and Swinhoe's); when possible focus on length of toes trailing behind tail in flight (Latham's has almost no toes projecting behind tail).