Scolopax mira

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CHARADRIIFORMES	SCOLOPACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Scolopax mira

Species Authority:

Hartert, 1916

Common Name/s:

English

–

Amami Woodcock, Ryukyu Woodcock

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A3ce ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Kominami, Y., Chan, S.

Justification:
This woodcock has a small population that has declined moderately rapidly as a result of logging and predation. Although it has recently shown some signs of recovery, the combined effects of logging and introduced predators are predicted to lead to an increased, rapid rate of decline in the near future. These factors qualify it as Vulnerable.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Scolopax mira is endemic to the Nansei Shoto Islands in southern Japan, where it is recorded from the islands of Amami-ooshima, Kakeroma-jima, Toku-no-shima, Okinawa and Tokashiki-jima. On Amami-ooshima, it was reported to be common in the mid-1980s and is mainly confined to the western half and the eastern tip of the island. Numbers around Nase City have declined markedly. On Tokunoshima, it was reportedly reasonably common in the mid-1980s, but it seems to be uncommon on Okinawa, where its population is believed to be small and confined to the northern part of the island. Its population is estimated to be <10,000 individuals. Declines are thought to have continued until 2002 but following conservation efforts since then it may have begun to increase.
Countries:	Native: Japan
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate derived from analysis of recent records and surveys by BirdLife International (2001); also estimated by Rose and Scott (1997) to number <10,000. Recent surveys suggest that the total population including immature birds may now exceed 10,000 individuals but whether the number of mature individuals is greater than 10,000 requires clarification.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Population estimate derived from analysis of recent records and surveys by BirdLife International (2001); also estimated by Rose and Scott (1997) to number <10,000. Recent surveys suggest that the total population including immature birds may now exceed 10,000 individuals but whether the number of mature individuals is greater than 10,000 requires clarification.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs in subtropical, evergreen, broadleaved hill forest, often with cycads, where it prefers damp and shady areas of the forest floor. It has been suggested that some birds migrate from Amami-ooshima to more southerly islands in winter, but this remains uncertain.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	On Amami-ooshima, large areas of mature forests have been clear-cut and replaced by young secondary forests. On Okinawa, the area of forest has declined and there is substantial and continuing deforestation in its range. There have been significant population declines in areas of good habitat where small Indian mongoose Herpestes javanicus was common, suggesting high levels of predation. Since 2002 there has been some control of mongooses and the predation risk may have decreased. Feral dogs and cats remain potential predators however. On Okinawa, there is a danger of accidental shooting as a result of confusion with S. rusticola, which is a game species.

Major Threat(s):

On Amami-ooshima, large areas of mature forests have been clear-cut and replaced by young secondary forests. On Okinawa, the area of forest has declined and there is substantial and continuing deforestation in its range. There have been significant population declines in areas of good habitat where small Indian mongoose Herpestes javanicus was common, suggesting high levels of predation. Since 2002 there has been some control of mongooses and the predation risk may have decreased. Feral dogs and cats remain potential predators however. On Okinawa, there is a danger of accidental shooting as a result of confusion with S. rusticola, which is a game species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway It is legally protected in Japan. Yuwandake National Wildlife Protection Area, and Kinsaku-baru Prefecture Protection Area have been established on Amami-ooshima. Yonaha-dake has been designated as a prefecture protection area on Okinawa. On Amami-ooshima, S. rusticola has been given special protection in order to prevent accidental shooting of S. mira. A radio-telemetry study of its home range was completed in the early 1990s. Small Indian mongoose has been actively controlled by the Ministry of Environment since 2002 with benefits to the woodcock. Censuses along mountain roads in the breeding season (twice a year, mainly in March and June), observations with ringed and radio transmitter fitted birds, and automatic camera surveys are now performed. Conservation Actions Proposed Restore the remaining areas of forest on the islands where it occurs. Increase control of introduced cats and dogs and continue efforts to control small Indian mongoose. Monitor the status of the population on Amami-ooshima, particularly to determine the impact of introduced predators. Conduct surveys and ecological research on the islands where it occurs.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
It is legally protected in Japan. Yuwandake National Wildlife Protection Area, and Kinsaku-baru Prefecture Protection Area have been established on Amami-ooshima. Yonaha-dake has been designated as a prefecture protection area on Okinawa. On Amami-ooshima, S. rusticola has been given special protection in order to prevent accidental shooting of S. mira. A radio-telemetry study of its home range was completed in the early 1990s. Small Indian mongoose has been actively controlled by the Ministry of Environment since 2002 with benefits to the woodcock. Censuses along mountain roads in the breeding season (twice a year, mainly in March and June), observations with ringed and radio transmitter fitted birds, and automatic camera surveys are now performed.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Restore the remaining areas of forest on the islands where it occurs. Increase control of introduced cats and dogs and continue efforts to control small Indian mongoose. Monitor the status of the population on Amami-ooshima, particularly to determine the impact of introduced predators. Conduct surveys and ecological research on the islands where it occurs.

Bibliography [top]

	BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Scolopax mira. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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