Gallinago media

INFLUENCE OF THE VEGETATION STRUCTURE ON THE NUMBERS OF GREAT SNIPES (GALLINAGO MEDIA) (SCOLOPACIDAE, AVES) ON LEKS

The numbers of birds and the vegetation structure were analyzed at 13, 7 and 10 leks of Great Snipes (Gallinago media) formed on agricultural lands in the Moscow Region in 2014 - 2016, respectively. Not less than 120 - 130 birds were concentrated on the leks annually, of which 82 - 94% were males. The abundance of Great Snipes changed asynchronously at different leks. It depended on neither the lek location (floodplain or watershed) nor the soil penetrability therein.