Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis Scientific name definitions

30–35 cm. Large woodcock with shortish, rounded wings; upperparts blackish with red-brown markings; underparts almost unbarred ochre-buff. Pattern somewhat similar to that of Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) and Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira), but darker above, with much brighter, almost unbarred underparts; bill and tarsi longer and much darker. Sex and seasonal differences and juvenile undescribed. Subspecies heinrichi differs in having clearly shorter bill (ca. 10%) (1 Kennedy, R.S., Fisher, T.H., Harrap, S.C.B., Diesmos, A.C. and Manamtam, A.S. (2001). A new species of woodcock (Aves: Scolopacidae) from the Philippines and a re-evaluation of other Asian/Papuasian woodcock. Forktail 17: 1–12. Close ).

Closely related to Moluccan Woodcock (Scolopax rochussenii), with which this species is sometimes considered conspecific (2 van Bemmel, A. C. V. (1948). A faunal list of the birds of the Moluccan Islands. Treubia 19(2):323–402. Close , 3 Johnsgard, P. A. (1981). The Plovers, Sandpipers and Snipes of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, USA. Close ). Some authorities, e.g., White and Bruce (4 White, C. M. N., and M. D. Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 7. British Ornithologists’ Union, London, UK. Close ), have preferred to consider Sulawesi Woodcock as monotypic.

Apparently solely in size (bill length).

Two subspecies recognized.

Never recorded.

Nothing known.

Northeastern and central Sulawesi.

Dense, mature and relatively undisturbed montane forest at 1,100–2,500 m; hides in thick undergrowth, running when disturbed; requires some wet, open patches with little undergrowth for foraging. Several recent observations have been along streambeds, although it has been suggested that the species prefers bamboo forest in some areas (7 Mole, J. and Wangko, M.F. (2006). Habitat of the Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis in Lore Lindu National Park. Kukila. 13: 64–66. Close ).

Apparently sedentary.

Feeds in wet spots; has been seen in puddles of water in hollows made by wild pigs.

Makes short flights over treetops at dusk, but vocalizations are unknown (1 Kennedy, R.S., Fisher, T.H., Harrap, S.C.B., Diesmos, A.C. and Manamtam, A.S. (2001). A new species of woodcock (Aves: Scolopacidae) from the Philippines and a re-evaluation of other Asian/Papuasian woodcock. Forktail 17: 1–12. Close ).

Information needed.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Very poorly known with few recent records; no precise information available; inconspicuous so infrequently recorded. Known from Lore Lindu National Park in central Sulawesi (7 Mole, J. and Wangko, M.F. (2006). Habitat of the Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis in Lore Lindu National Park. Kukila. 13: 64–66. Close ). Ironically, small-scale collection of rattan might provide suitable breaks in dense undergrowth preferred by this species for foraging (7 Mole, J. and Wangko, M.F. (2006). Habitat of the Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis in Lore Lindu National Park. Kukila. 13: 64–66. Close ).