Subantarctic Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica Scientific name definitions

21–24 cm; 82–129 g; wingspan 30–35 cm. Small , compact snipe with very short legs and long, slightly drooping bill . Nominate is largest and palest race, with almost unbarred, pale buff belly, so rather similar to C. pusilla, but separated by longer, slightly decurved bill . Female slightly larger than male and has paler upperparts (1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ). Juvenile very similar to adult, but black markings and streaking on upper breast and throat are less distinct. Racial variation considerable: meinertzhagenae tends to be darkest, with yellowest underparts, and grey legs (most frequently yellow in nominate); <em>perseverance</em> is darker above than either of the other two races, with blackish subterminal marks on scapulars as prominent as in meinertzhagenae but fringes to scapulars and wing-coverts darker (pale buff in the other taxa), rump rufous-brown finely barred black (finer than in meinertzhagenae and similar to but more prominent than in nominate), barring on flanks less extensive, central belly off-white (versus cream in nominate) and bill shorter than both other races (1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ).

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Cool temperate and subantarctic islands, occurring in tussock grassland on cliff tops, and in moist open woodlands (e.g. of Olearia) with mosaic of dense undergrowth, including grass tussocks, mat-forming herbs, sedges and shield ferns; also herb fields and scrubland. Race perseverance found only in densely vegetated habitats dominated by tall tussock grasses (Poa litorosa, P. foliosa), sedges (Carex trifida, C. appressa) and ferns (Polystichum vestitum) growing on damp peat (1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ).

Presumably sedentary, even within island groups, although race perseverance was apparently previously a visitor to main Campbell I from tiny Jacquemart I (1 km away) and has recently recolonized the former naturally following the eradication of introduced predators (see Status and Conservation) (2 Miskelly, C.M. (2006). A 1952 record of snipe on Campbell Island. Notornis. 53(4): 360. Close , 3 Miskelly, C.M. and Norton, B. (2008). A further 1952 record of a Coenocorypha snipe on Campbell Island, New Zealand subantarctic. Notornis. 55(3): 162–165. Close , 1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ). Occasional sightings on Enderby, Ocean and Dundas Is may represent dispersal from Ewing I, 1·7–5 km away, although these islands may all have undiscovered populations, as for example nests were finally discovered on Rose I in 1990s and early 2000s, proving the existence there of a resident population (4 Miskelly, C.M., Walker, K.J. and Elliott, G.P. (2006). Breeding ecology of three subantarctic snipes (genus Coenocorypha). Notornis. 53(4): 361–374. Close ).

Mainly soil-dwelling invertebrates, such as earthworms, amphipods, isopods, small spiders, adult beetles, various insects (including Coleoptera), and larvae and pupae of flies and beetles. Probes soil and bases of tussocks, to full length of bill, evidently feeling for insect movements; rarely pecks prey from surface. Most prey swallowed while probing; only large items are removed from soil and manipulated before swallowing. Diurnally and nocturnally active, feeding in more open areas at night.

Nocturnal drumming display (‘hakawai’), similar to that of C. pusilla and C. huegeli, comprising a short series of 4–8 disyllabic whistles, followed by a loud non-vocal roar, presumably produced by vibrating tail rectrices as the birds dive down at speed, given every c. 2 minutes; display noise has been likened to the sound of a passing jet or a chain being lowered onto a boat, at least in extinct C. iredalei; all three subspecies perform these displays, males probably more frequently than females in nominate and meinertzhagenae, but in perseverance the frequency with which both sexes gave displays are higher than in the other races (5 Miskelly, C.M., Bell, E.A., Elliott, G.P. and Walker, K.J. (2006). ‘Hakawai’ aerial displaying by three populations of subantarctic snipe (genus Coenocorypha). Notornis. 53(4): 375–381. Close ). Other calls probably also similar to those of C. huegeli, but few detailed descriptions exist for the populations now lumped under this species.

Overall lays mid-Aug to Apr; nominate between late Sept and Jan (peak late Nov), race meinertzhagenae from mid Aug to early Nov and again between late Jan to Mar (4 Miskelly, C.M., Walker, K.J. and Elliott, G.P. (2006). Breeding ecology of three subantarctic snipes (genus Coenocorypha). Notornis. 53(4): 361–374. Close ), and race perseverance recorded laying mid Nov to mid Jan (1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ). Male performs nocturnal drumming flight (see Voice). Solitary in territory; probably nests at relatively high densities. Nest  often under shield ferns (Polystichum) or tussock (Poa); nest is natural depression or bowl in plant detritus, 11–19 cm wide (4 Miskelly, C.M., Walker, K.J. and Elliott, G.P. (2006). Breeding ecology of three subantarctic snipes (genus Coenocorypha). Notornis. 53(4): 361–374. Close ). Clutch two eggs  (exceptionally three in nominate), olive-brown to pale brown heavily marked with mid grey and dark brown, size 41·4–45·9 mm × 30·5–32·6 mm, mass 20·8–25·1 g (nominate), 39·8–44·1 mm × 30·8–33·4 mm, mass 20·6–25·4 g (meinertzhagenae) and 42·1–44·3 mm × 30·5–30·8 mm, mass 21·5–22·7 g (perseverance) (1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ); incubation by both parents, but period unknown; brood divided between parents; chick similar to those of Gallinago, but only dimly patterned, with inconspicuous white powder-puff tips; chick  probably develops relatively slowly, and estimated age of some dependent young in excess of 50 days, but fledging period and other details unknown. High levels of nest failure reported, but no formal study (4 Miskelly, C.M., Walker, K.J. and Elliott, G.P. (2006). Breeding ecology of three subantarctic snipes (genus Coenocorypha). Notornis. 53(4): 361–374. Close ). Known predators include skuas (Catharacta) and New Zealand Falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) (6 Hyde, N.H.S. and Worthy, T.H. (2010). The diet of New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) on the Auckland Islands, New Zealand. Notornis. 57(1): 19–26. Close ). Adult annual and longevity unknown.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Total population estimated at 34,000 birds but might be much higher, with Auckland Is probably holding more than two-thirds of total, mostly on Adams I, Disappointment I and Ewing I; race aucklandica numbers c. 25,000 birds and meinertzhagenae c. 8000 birds. Race perseverance discovered as recently as 35735  , on Jacquemart I (7 Barker, D., Carroll, J.W.A., Edmonds, H.K., Fraser, J.R. and Miskelly, C.M. (2005). Discovery of a previously unknown Coenocorypha snipe in the Campbell Island group, New Zealand subantarctic. Notornis. 52(3): 143–149. Close ) (although two 1952 sightings of snipe on Campbell remained unreported for > 50 years) (2 Miskelly, C.M. (2006). A 1952 record of snipe on Campbell Island. Notornis. 53(4): 360. Close , 3 Miskelly, C.M. and Norton, B. (2008). A further 1952 record of a Coenocorypha snipe on Campbell Island, New Zealand subantarctic. Notornis. 55(3): 162–165. Close ), but has since recolonized the main Campbell I from Jacquemart (19 ha), following eradication of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in 2001, and is now rapidly spreading (8 Miskelly, C.M. and Fraser, J.R. (2006). Campbell Island snipe (Coenocorypha undescribed sp.) recolonise subantarctic Campbell Island following rat eradication. Notornis. 53(4): 353–359. Close , 1 Miskelly, C.M. and Baker, A.J. (2009). Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand. Notornis. 56(3): 113–123. Close ). Other populations now stable, following massive decline (Campbell I snipe probably disappeared from > 99% of its range prior to the recolonization event, while the nominate subspecies was extirpated from nearly 83% of its range) (9 Miskelly, C.M. (2008). Impact of introduced mammals on the genetic diversity and conservation status of New Zealand snipes (Coenocorypha spp.). Notornis. 55(1): 53. Close ), but in danger of rapid extinction if islands colonized by new predators; genetic diversity in virtually all populations of the species has been severely compromised, which has implications in light of global warming and introduction of avian pathogens (9 Miskelly, C.M. (2008). Impact of introduced mammals on the genetic diversity and conservation status of New Zealand snipes (Coenocorypha spp.). Notornis. 55(1): 53. Close ). Race meinertzhagenae survives on Antipodes I in presence of introduced house mice (Mus musculus). Encounter rates on Adams I more than three times higher than in similar habitat on Antipodes I: Adams I (10,119 ha) is likely to hold tens of thousands of birds, based on recorded densities of at least four birds/ha on other islands, while colonizing population on Campbell is likely to number 100s and is increasing. Total area occupied by the species is c. 11,540 ha in the Auckland Is, 2060 ha in the Antipodes Is and c. 3000 ha on Campbell I (with a total of 11,290 ha available there to colonize).