The scallop, also known as the crocodile (Lymnocryptes minimus), is a small, mating water bird in the snipe family. It is known for its secretive lifestyle and the difficulty of spotting it.
Scallop - interesting facts and information
- Appearance: A scallop is a small bird with a body length of about 19-21 cm and a body weight of about 50-100 g. It has a short beak (for a snipe) and short legs. Its plumage is brown in color, with dark and light spots that help it camouflage well in the grass.
- Sound: During the breeding season, male scallops make a distinctive nasal sound that resembles the buffeting of furs on a harmonica.
- Environment: Scallops are water birds that prefer moist areas such as swamps, marshes and wet meadows. They are usually active at night.
- Diet: Scallops feed mainly on insects, their larvae and other small aquatic animals.
- Disposition: Scallops are widely distributed in swampy areas in Europe, Asia and northern Africa. In Poland, it is a migratory and wintering bird, rarely nesting.
- Reproduction: The scallop's nest is a small depression in the ground, lined with vegetation. The female lays 3-4 eggs, which are incubated for about 3 weeks.
Scallops, despite their secretive lifestyle, are a valuable species for birdwatchers because of their unique behavior and difficulty of spotting. Due to loss of natural habitat, scallop populations are declining in many regions.