Auckland snipe

The Auckland Island snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica aucklandica) is a small bird in the sandpiper family. It is the isolated nominate subspecies of the subantarctic snipe that is endemic to the Auckland Islands, a subantarctic island group south of New Zealand in the Southern Ocean.

Auckland Island snipe
Coenocorypha aucklandica by Hullmandel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Coenocorypha
Species:
C. aucklandica
Subspecies:
C. a. aucklandica
Trinomial name
Coenocorypha aucklandica aucklandica
(Gray, 1844)
Synonyms
  • Gallinago aucklandica Gray 1845
  • Scolopax holmesii Peale, 1848
  • Scolopax auclandica
  • Gallinago tristrami Rothschild 1893 (in error)

Taxonomy and etymology

The Auckland Island snipe was first collected in 1840 both by Charles Wilkes’ United States Exploring Expedition, and James Ross’ Erebus and Terror Antarctic expedition, with the British specimens forming the basis for George Gray's 1844 description.[1] The species name, and hence the subspecific epithet, refer to the type locality.

Description

The subspecies is generally similar to others in the genus, being a small, brown, cryptically-patterned snipe with a long bill, short neck, tail and legs, and short, rounded wings. Females are slightly larger than males, weighing about 107 g compared with the males’ 82–94 g.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The snipe is endemic to the Auckland Islands, which has a total surface area of 625 km2. However, it is no longer present on main Auckland Island, but only on 100 km2 Adams Island, Enderby Island, and the much smaller Disappointment, Ewing, Figure of Eight, Rose, Ocean and Dundas Islands.[2] It inhabits the islands’ tussock grasslands, Olearia forest, shrubland and herbfields.[2]

Breeding

Breeding is seasonal, with a records of egg-laying from late September to early November with chicks present in November–December. The typical clutch size is two.[2] “Hakawai” aerial displays have been recorded.[3]

Status and conservation

The population of the snipe is estimated at 20,000 birds.[4] It has been classified as a range-restricted island endemic with a stable population.[5]

References
  1. Oliver, W.R.B. (1955). New Zealand Birds. Wellington: Reed. pp. 277–278. ISBN 0-589-00851-X.
  2. Higgins, P.J.; Davies, S.J.J.F., eds. (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 3:Snipe to Pigeons. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. pp. 54–66. ISBN 0-19-553070-5.
  3. Miskelly, Colin M.; Bell, Elizabeth A.; Elliott, Graeme P. & Walker, Kath J. (2006). "'Hakawai' aerial displaying by three populations of subantarctic snipe (genus Coenocorypha)". Notornis. 53 (4): 375–381. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16.
  4. Melville, David S. & Battley, Phil F. (2006). "Shorebirds in New Zealand" (PDF). The Stilt. 50: 269–277. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-14.
  5. Miskelly, Colin M.; Dowding, John E.; Elliott, Graeme P.; Hitchmough, Rodney A.; Powlesland, Ralph G.; Robertson, Hugh A.; Sagar, Paul M.; Scofield, R. Paul & Taylor, Graeme A. (2008). "Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2008" (PDF). Notornis. 55: 117–135. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-24.
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