also: あおしぎ
solitary snipe
A species of snipe (Gallinago solitaria).
The solitary snipe is seen in Japan as a winter bird.
Hiragana spelling, also acceptable.
Kanji form is rare; the bird is almost always written in kana.
The name combines 青 (ao, 'blue/green') and シギ (shigi, 'snipe'), referring to the bird's plumage. The exact derivation is uncertain.