Do Springer Spaniels hunt by sight or scent?

A fellow co-worker who has a Springer as a pet and not a hunting dog asked me if they were scent dogs or sight dogs. Anyone here know the answer?
Thanks

 

Spaniels are primarily retreiving dogs as I understand it... BUT they do alert by SIGHT rather than scent I beleive... I've not thought much about spaniels and how they hunt...but from what I've seen in the breeds of spaniels...they go by eyes FIRST nose second...and are retrievers more commonly than just plain hunters...

could be wrong... Hmmm...might have to go research that one though.

 

As a sporting dog, I believe they hunt by air scent, whereas the hounds hunt by ground scent or sight.

here's a link where I found some information on it
http://searchtuna.com/ftlive/303.html

 

Forgot about air scent and I think you're Right!

 

I thought they had floppy ears and are smaller (not small, but not as big as a big dog) and generally that meant scent, it was once ssaid that floppy eared dogs use their ears to help smell, like it keeps the smell in closer to their noses, something I forget!! But i don't think they are sight.

 

They're used a lot in UK, both English and Welsh Springers, its predominantly air scent.