Amami Woodcock Scolopax mira Scientific name definitions

34–36 cm; 405–541 g (1 Dunning, J. B., Jr. (2008). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. Second edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. Close ); wingspan 66 cm (2 Chandler, R. (2009). Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere. Christopher Helm, London. Close ). Plumage variable, can be rather dark , but equally can be paler than S. rusticola. Differs from very similar S. rusticola by broader wings, longer tarsi , flatter forehead and crown , deeper base of bill and pinkish bare skin around eye (not present in all individuals); generally less rufous-brown, more olive-brown and more uniform in general coloration, with far fewer contrasting dark and grey areas on wings and mantle; first crown bar slightly narrower than second; lacks dark subterminal band in tail. Seasonal differences and juvenile undescribed. Females on Amami and Tukuno are generally larger than males, except in tail length; same probably true on Kakeroma, but sample sizes insufficient to be certain of this (3 Eda, M., Torikai, H., Kimura, K., Abe, S. and Koike, H. (2014). [Behavioural and morphological sexual differences in the Amami Woodcock Scolopax mira, using molecular sexing of banded birds]. Jap. J. Orn.. 63(1): 15–21. Close ).

Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma, Tokuno, Okinawa and Tokashiki I (C Ryukyu Is).

Occupies broadleaf evergreen hill forests, preferring damp and shady areas in primary forests, although second growth is utilized (4 Ishida, K. and Takashi, M. (1998). Threats to populations of Scolopax mira and Zoothera major on Amami Island, Japan. Pp. 431–432 in:. Close ); possibly also adjacent fields, including sugarcane plantations, although this might refer to S. rusticola. Latter winters in same range as present species, but generally prefers non-forested habitats (5 Brazil, M. (2009). Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia: Eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Eastern Russia. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Sedentary, but juvenile and adult dispersal occurs post-breeding and is suspected to be over longer distances in females (4 Ishida, K. and Takashi, M. (1998). Threats to populations of Scolopax mira and Zoothera major on Amami Island, Japan. Pp. 431–432 in:. Close , 3 Eda, M., Torikai, H., Kimura, K., Abe, S. and Koike, H. (2014). [Behavioural and morphological sexual differences in the Amami Woodcock Scolopax mira, using molecular sexing of banded birds]. Jap. J. Orn.. 63(1): 15–21. Close ).

Nothing known of diet. Probes in soft earth and short vegetation on forest floor, along road edges and mud of roadside banks.

Until recently, was believed that this species did not perform roding flights unlike most other Scolopax, but in addition to ground displays (see Breeding) is now known to perform 0·5–1 km circular flights around territory in Mar; these are accompanied by burping “wart wart wart” calls much like those of S. rusticola (5 Brazil, M. (2009). Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia: Eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Eastern Russia. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). When flushed gives a snipe-like “jheet”  note, sometimes a more duck-like “ghett!” (which can also be interspersed in roding flight display), or a sharp “je je” or “vett vet-vett”, as well as loud, high “puu” or low “vuu” calls in flight (6 Brazil, M. (1991). The Birds of Japan. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 5 Brazil, M. (2009). Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia: Eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Eastern Russia. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Lays mid Mar to early May. No aerial display recorded; single males observed displaying on the ground in vicinity of single females, with quivering, hanging wings and gently bobbing head, uttering strong “gu” calls and softer “ku” calls. Clutch 2–4 eggs, colour reddish to deep buffish brown, botched darker, overall larger and darker than those of S. rusticola, size 48·2–50·2 mm × 36·8–37·8 mm (7 Hachisuka, M.U. (1952). What is the Amami Woodcock? Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 72(7): 77–81. Close ). No further information available.

VULNERABLE. No precise information available, but population does not exceed 10,000 individuals. Locally common on Amami, with densities of up to c. 37 individuals/10 km² (4 Ishida, K. and Takashi, M. (1998). Threats to populations of Scolopax mira and Zoothera major on Amami Island, Japan. Pp. 431–432 in:. Close ), but less numerous on other islands in range. Relative abundance has been monitored on Amami since 1985; by 2009/10, population was estimated to be slightly above half that believed to exist at start of period, but was increasing from a low point in 2001/02 (8 Sugimura, K., K. Ishida, S. Abe, Y. Nagai, Y. Watari, M. Tatara, M. Takashi, T. Hashimoto, and F. Yamada (2013). Monitoring the effects of forest clear-cutting and mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus invasion on wildlife diversity on Amami Island, Japan. Oryx 48(2):241–249. Close ). In some areas, threatened by habitat loss through deforestation, e.g. in N Okinawa, where important tracts of forest are seriously threatened by clear-cutting and complete removal of the undergrowth (9 Itô, Y., K. Miyagi, and H. Ota (2000). Imminent extinction crisis among the endemic species of the forests of Yanbaru, Okinawa, Japan. Oryx 34(4):305–316. Close ), as well as on Amami; may be hunted locally. Another cause for concern is predation by small Indian mongooses (Herpestes punctatus), which have been introduced to Amami and Okinawa in order to control the poisonous snake Protobothrops flavoviridis. This seems to have caused population decline already in part of Amami. Mortality on roads also cause for some concern, with an apparent male bias to such deaths (3 Eda, M., Torikai, H., Kimura, K., Abe, S. and Koike, H. (2014). [Behavioural and morphological sexual differences in the Amami Woodcock Scolopax mira, using molecular sexing of banded birds]. Jap. J. Orn.. 63(1): 15–21. Close ) and a peak in Mar (during breeding season), while a recent study found that woodcock activity on roads is particularly high when moon is waxing and that c. 90% of nocturnal traffic in relevant areas occurs between dusk and midnight; mitigation measures to reduce mortality have been proposed (10 Mizuta, T. (2014). Moonlight-related mortality: lunar conditions and roadkill occurrence in the Amami Woodcock Scolopax mira. Wilson J. Orn.. 126(3): 544–552. Close ). Census work on species complicated by presence of very similar, easily confusable, S. rusticola as winter vistor to the islands.