Justification This species is classified as Near Threatened because, although it is quite widespread, it has a moderately small population overall and this is thought to be in decline, owing primarily to destruction of its wintering grounds. An even more rapid population decline may take place in the future owing to climate change.

Family/Sub-family Scolopacidae

Species name author (Blyth, 1848)

Taxonomic source(s) Christidis and Boles (1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Turbott (1990)

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

23,000

decreasing

2,750,000 km²

No

Range & population Limnodromus semipalmatus has a disjunct breeding range in the steppe regions that extend from west to east Siberia, Russia, and south into Mongolia and Heilongjiang in north-east China. It has been recorded as a non-breeding visitor to Japan, North Korea, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. The population size is estimated at 23,000 individuals¹. It is dependent on a rather small number of wetlands, notably the wintering sites at the Banyuasin Delta on Sumatra, where up to 13,000 were estimated in 1988, and Ujung Pangkah in east Java.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour This species is migratory but its movements are not well known². It breeds in small colonies of 6-20 pairs often with White-winged Terns Chlidonias leucopterus, and although the timing and location of breeding varies considerably depending on water levels, most females lay between late-May and early-June^2,3. Neighbouring nests are spaced 4-350 m apart². Birds arrive in the wintering grounds in September², returning usually in April², although some small groups remain in the wintering range during the boreal summer². It is a gregarious species, that occurs in small flocks during migration ³. At other times it occurs in pairs or small groups, with larger flocks of over 100 individuals roosting or feeding together at favoured sites². Habitat Breeding It breeds in extensive freshwater wetlands in the steppe and forest steppe zones. Suitable habitats include lake shores, river deltas, flooded meadows and grassy bogs along rivers with short grass and sedge vegetation², and areas of bare mud³. It is also found on the boggy shores of alkaline ponds³, and has been observed in rice fields². Non-breeding During the non-breeding season it occurs in sheltered coastal environments, primarily estuarine and intertidal mudflats, lagoons, creeks and saltworks². It will also roost on sandy beaches or in shallow lagoons during this season². Diet Breeding On the breeding grounds its diet consists of small fish, insect larvae and oligochaetes². Non-breeding On migration and in its wintering range, it feeds on polychaetes, insect larvae and molluscs². Breeding site The nests of one colony were reported to be sited either on mounds among reeds in shallow water, or in the open, in hollows almost devoid of cover³. On bare ground the nest is a shallow depression lined with grass². Those found over water are created from grass stalks and dead leaves³. They are sometimes found up to 8-12 cm above water that is 25 cm deep².

Threats It may be particularly vulnerable to habitat loss in its breeding grounds as a result of the drainage of wetlands for agriculture, or their drying-out as a result of climate change². It may also be vulnerable to hunting, pollution and other pressures on both the breeding and wintering grounds.

Conservation measures underway CMS Appendix II.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys to improve knowledge of breeding and wintering grounds. Regularly monitor the population at important sites on both the breeding and wintering grounds. Oppose developments that threaten key wintering sites.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. Bamford et al. (in prep). 2. del Hoyo et al. (1996).3. Johnsgard (1981)

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Limnodromus semipalmatus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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