SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN WING MEASUREMENTS OF COMMON SNIPE

摘要

Arnold (1994) proposed that an economical technique for accurately distinguishing common snipe, Gallinago gallinago, sexes is needed for monitoring this declining neotropicalmigrant(DeGraafandRappolel995). Becausecommonsnipearemigratory game birds, Fogarty et al. (1977) suggested that wings obtained from hunters might permit large-scale population monitoring (Hoffman 1981). Consequently, a sexing technique using wing characteristics is desirable. Distinguishing sexes by morphometiic differences wouldseem reasonable because previous research documented that, although generally monomorphic, common snipe females are typically larger than males (White 1963, Whitehead 1962, Tuck 1972, Hofmann 1987). Because wing morphometrics of common snipe have received only limited study (Arnold 1994), I explored the potential for differentiating sexes of specimens collected in northwestern California.