Asian Dowitcher

Common Name	Asian DowitcherBirdlife International
Species name	Limnodromus semipalmatusBirdlife International
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus
Local Name	Country Appearance Local name Brunei Darussalam     Cambodia     China     Indonesia     Japan Yes シベリアオオハシシギ Lao PDR     Malaysia     Mongolia     Myanmar     Philippines     Republic of Korea     Singapore     Thailand     Vietnam

 

Visual and Sound Image

Photos

Asian Dowitcher

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Sounds

 

Identification

No descriptions

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Range Description

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.

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Ecology

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-June2,3. 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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References

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

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Status

International Status

IUCN Red List Category

NT

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.
<Population justification> Bamford et al. (in prep)
<Trend justification> There are no data on population trends; however, the species is probably in decline owing to pollution and development on the wintering grounds. In the future, these declines may be intensified by habitat shifts on the breeding grounds, caused by global warming.

 

National Status

Country	Category	Reference
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Mongolia	VU	Mongolian Red List of Birds(Seidler et al. Eds., 2011)
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand	VU	Thailand Red Data: Birds(Sanguansombat, 2005)
Vietnam	R	Red Data Book of Vietnam(2000) （Endangered, Vulnerable, Rare, Threatened）

 

Management

Threat

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.

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Information

No descriptions

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Current Conservation

CMS Appendix II.

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Current Conservation

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.

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Legal Protection

Country	Status	Reference
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia	Protected Species	Goverment Regulation no. 7 / 1999, about Preservation of Plants and Animals
Japan
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

 

Related Links

• CMS: Convention on Migratory Species

Range

Geographical Information

Migration Route

 

Asian Waterbird Census

Descriptions

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was initiated in 1987 and runs in parallel with other waterbird censuses carried out in Africa, Europe, Central and West Asia and Latin America under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), which is organised by Wetlands International.

The AWC takes place annually, during the second and third weeks of January, and is carried out by volunteers interested in collecting information on waterbirds and wetlands as a basis for contributing to their conservation.

Reference: Li, Z.W.D., Bloem, A., Delany S., Martakis G. and Quintero J. O. 2009. Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007. Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Census Data

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual									1
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)									1
The total number of count sites	2	3	3	2	4	4	0	4	4	4	4	5	5	0	0	0	9	0	0	1	0	9
CAMBODIA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual											16
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)											1
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	11	0	0	12	12	11	5	1	6	9	6	6
CHINA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	1	34	12	50	60	67	29	6	14	6	15	21	20	14	10	22	45	80	81	59	72
INDONESIA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual				1300	1000			1501			600				400		500
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)				1	3			2			1				1		1
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	1	19	8	17	17	15	19	16	0	0	47	12	10	40	34	14	16	15	23
JAPAN	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	53	39	52	47	20	50	40	47	37	41	37	107	112	103	109	97	159	142	137
LAO PDR	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	2	4	5	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
MALAYSIA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual				10	8	6	6	3		3								2	23	28	302	3
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)				1	3	2	1	1		1								1	2	2	4	2
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	59	68	93	85	17	10	7	10	0	0	20	25	25	25	43	43	82	82	40
MYANMAR	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual			8
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)			1
The total number of count sites	0	5	3	12	17	15	21	20	13	12	2	4	2	0	7	32	47	73	24	31	32	19
PHILIPPINES	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual					19	22	27	68		5	39	39	47	34	55	89	32	10	23	52		20
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)					1	1	1	1		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	0	19	21	34	39	46	47	39	28	29	32	43	38	50	47	56	54	65	108
SINGAPORE	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	0	4	12	17	15	13	14	10	10	6	11	10	10	8	9	9	8	8	7
REPUBLIC OF KOREA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	0	10	12	22	20	20	15	10	22	25	22	14	68	99	112	118	116	117	123	127	127
THAILAND	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual					1		2		4											67	25
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)					1		1		1											1	2
The total number of count sites	10	8	3	20	26	12	23	16	17	5	9	3	1	1	7	3	9	26	20	82	99	33
VIETNAM	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	1	2	0	1	4	0	1	1	0	1	8	2	2	16	4	4	9	6	11

 

Population

Descriptions

 

Population Trend

 

Additional Information

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Climate change species distributions

 

Other Information

• 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