painted snipe

American  

noun

1. either of two snipelike birds of the family Rostratulidae, of South America and the Old World tropics, the female of which is larger and more brightly colored than the male.

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Etymology

Origin of painted snipe

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

The "painted snipe," as it is called, is very common, having a chocolate-colored head and a white collar, with back and wings of green, the tail feathers being spotted with yellow like a butterfly's wings.

From The Pearl of India by Ballou, Maturin Murray

Several migrating birds were seen in September at 17,000 feet and above, among them Temminck's stint, painted snipe, pin-tailed snipe, house-martin and several pipits.

From Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 by Howard-Bury, Charles Kenneth

Among these birds I especially noticed a very beautiful variety of painted snipe, almost the size of a woodcock, and with a flight more resembling that bird's than an English snipe's.

From She by Haggard, Henry Rider

Another bird rarely seen at any other spot than this was the painted snipe, a prettily-marked species with a green curved bill.

From Far Away and Long Ago by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)