Amami woodcock
Charadriiformes / Family: Scolopacidae
- Total length
- approx. 35 cm
- Range
- Resident on Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma-jima, Uke-jima,Yoro-jima, and Tokunoshima. Observed in winter on Kikai-jima, Okinoerabu-jima, and the Okinawa Islands. *Although occasionally observed in summer in the northern part of Okinawa Island, "Yambaru," breeding has not been recorded to date.
It feeds on earthworms and insects from the soil, roaming in search of prey. In the diorama, it’s hunting for its favorite worms.
In Tokunoshima, its close relative, the Eurasian woodcock (S. rusticola), can also be seen in winter. However, the Amami woodcock is distinguishable by its longer legs and more rounded head.
Primarily active from dusk to dawn, it is sometimes seen on prefectural roads near settlements in Tokunoshima. Its breeding season lasts from February to May, during which it nests in ground-level bushes along forest edges or within forests, laying two to four eggs at a time.
Habitat of This Animal:
B:Forest along the mountain ridge - B1:Forest near the settlement
Most of the forests in Tokunoshima Island are secondary forests that were once cleared in the past. Especially near the settlements, there are forests that have become well-lit thanks to recent pruning. Remains of paths, charcoal kilns, and fields form a reminder of the relationship between people and nature. Such forests accessible from settlements are inhabited by many living creatures fond of the well-lit environment.
This B1:Forest near the settlement