The larger and more colourful female greater painted snipe (R) courts males, which look after the offspring A study of shorebirds has helped shed light on why some species reverse the roles of the ...

Although greater painted-snipe populations have declined markedly ... forming a distinctive harness. This young female painted-snipe cleans the long, spreading toes that are typical of many wading ...

It was recognised as its own distinct species only last year after DNA analysis separated it from the greater painted ... The snipe is unusual in the bird world because the female is better ...