Scolopax rusticola
Japanese name: ヤマシギ
Chinese name: 山鷸
English name: Eurasian Woodcock
Origin: Widely distributed across the Eurasian continent. Breeds in temperate regions in summer and migrates south to overwinter. In the Ryukyu Islands, it is a winter visitor.
In the Ryukyu Islands, Eurasian Woodcocks that migrate from areas such as Hokkaido can be observed from late September through around March. The Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira) is a resident species found on Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, and small numbers of Amami Woodcocks also arrive in northern Okinawajima during winter. Therefore, in these regions, both species may be present during the winter months. When observing woodcocks in winter, it is necessary to check detailed characteristics in order to distinguish between the two species.
