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Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Coenocorypha
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South Island Snipe Coenocorypha iredalei Scientific name definitions

Authors not available
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 1996

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Systematics History

Closely related to C. pusilla, with which sometimes considered conspecific, especially in the past. Until recently, considered conspecific with C. huegeli and C. aucklandica, but (on basis of literature and single intact specimen in NHMUK) differs from both in bold creamy and chocolate-coloured streaking on throat and breast, changing on mid-breast to a few rufous-buff feathers with mid-brown fringes, then on flanks to rather bold cream and chocolate-coloured scalloping, with mid-belly clear cream (3); much clearer markings on upperparts with bold narrow creamy fringes along outer edge of many feathers (3); more chestnut-tinged uppertail (1). Monotypic.

Subspecies

Became extinct on both South I and Stewart I following the occupation of New Zealand by Polynesians and the associated introduction of rats (1). Survived on at least nine small islands until 20th century, but was progressively extirpated as rats reached these, the last records coming from Big South Cape I and Pukeweka I in early 1964.

Distribution

Little Moggy I, Big South Cape I and other small islands off Stewart I, New Zealand; in earlier times also on South I and Stewart I.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife EX Extinct
Distribution of the South Island Snipe - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the South Island Snipe

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

(2020). South Island Snipe (Coenocorypha iredalei), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.soisni1.01
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