Amami Woodcock

Scolopax mira

The Amamiwaldschnepfe ( Scolopax mira ) is an East Asian species of bird in the family of the Waders.

Description

The Amamiwaldschnepfe is 34 to 36 inches long. The top is olive brown with a fine reddish brown patterning. The underside is brown and buff banded. On the back are two broad brown bands, the first of which is slightly narrower. The eyes are surrounded with naked pink skin. It has a long beak.

Occurrence

The Amamiwaldschnepfe occurs only on the Nansei Islands, especially on Amami - Oshima, Kakeromajima, Tokunoshima, Okinawa Honto and Tokashikijima.

Habitat

The Amamiwaldschnepfe inhabited primary subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, often with Palmfarnbewuchs. It prefers shady and moist areas on the forest floor. It is suspected that some birds in the winter of Amami - Oshima migrate to the southern islands, but this remains unconfirmed.

Endangering

Due to its small distribution area of 2.300 km ², the Amamiwaldschnepfe by the IUCN as threatened. While she was still considered common in the 1980s, their stock is now back stronger and is currently estimated at less than 10,000 copies. Main causes of threat are the clearing of primary forests and feral dogs, cats and mongooses Small. On Okinawa and Tokunoshima also there is also the hunt. The protected Amamamiwaldschnepfe is repeatedly shot here by mistake, since it is often confused with the also occurring on the islands woodcock, which is considered as wild game.