Dusky Woodcock

The Malays woodcock ( Scolopax saturata ), sometimes also called Java woodcock, is a Schnepfenart from the kind of authentics woodcock ( Scolopax ). It occurs in Sumatra and Java. The species is monotypic, however, was the New Guinea Woodcock ( Scolopax rosenbergii ) for a long time as a subspecies of the Malays snipe.

Features

The Malays snipe reached a size 29-31 cm. The chest and the largest part of the abdomen are brownish. The chin is yellow-brown. From related species, the Malays snipe distinguished by a bright area on the upper abdomen. The young birds are previously undescribed.

Habitat

The Malays snipe inhabited remnants of primary montane rain forests in the northern and south-central Sumatra and western Java. The forests have medium dense to dense undergrowth and are located at altitudes of 1,500 to 3,000 m. In secondary forests, the Malays snipe is not found. Often one can observe the way in small woodlots in alpine grasslands.

Way of life

The Malays snipe goes at night in search of food. The stomach contents of two specimens consisted of caterpillars and moths dolls. Reproduction takes place during the rainy season. In Java, the breeding season is from February to April, in Sumatra young birds were observed in mid-May. Balzflüge be presented during the morning and dusk, especially around forest clearings. The nest consists of a bed of moss between ferns, which is slightly heaped up above the ground. The nest consists probably of two eggs.

Status

The IUCN lists the species near threatened ( " near threatened "). Surveys are not available. The main hazard is due to habitat loss due to the clearing of forests for oil palm plantations. However, the mountain forests are still relatively unthreatened.