Scolopacidae
鹬科
yù kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

English is amazingly rich in words for the Scolopacidae. In contrast, the Tringinae in Chinese are covered by just two general names.

• The name used for the Scolopacidae in general is 鹬 yù.
• For the snipe proper (the Gallinagininae), Mainland ornithologists use the less familiar term 沙锥 shā zhuī 'sand-drill' (or 沙锥鸟 shā zhuī niǎo 'sand-drill bird'). (In other contexts, the name 沙锥 shā zhuī is used for a kind of fish, the Longnose gudgeon.)

In Taiwan, 鹬 yù is officially used for all Scolopacidae.

The official Taiwanese names of the Scolopacidae are very close to the Japanese, from which the Mainland authorities have moved away somewhat. This process entails both the substitution of more Chinese-sounding names (e.g., 红脚鹬 hóng-jiǎo yù 'red-legged snipe' for 赤足鹬 chì-zú yù 'red-legged snipe') and the partial regularisation of existing names to accord with scientific genera. For instance, the term 滨鹬 bīn-yù 'shore-snipe', from Japanese 浜鷸 hama-shigi, has been expanded from the Dunlin and one other species to virtually all members of the genus Calidris.

The regularised names are as follows:

The Mainland names show occasional contradictions with the Taiwanese names. 大杓鹬 dà sháo-yù 'large spoon-snipe' refers to Numenius arquata on the Mainland and N. madagascariencis in Taiwan. The term 漂鷸 piāo-yù 'floating snipe' originally referred to Tringa incana (Heteroscelus incanus) on the Mainland and Calidris canutus on Taiwan, although the Taiwanese name has now been changed to conform with the Mainland name.

Cultural:

The Chinese have a proverb: 鹬蚌相争，渔人得利 yù bàng xiāng zhēng, yúrén dé lì. 'The yu and the clam struggle together; the fisherman makes the gain'. This derives from an old story of a snipe/sandpiper who had put his bill inside the clam's shell in order to eat the clam. The clam countered by clamping his shell tightly onto the bird's bill. The two were locked in a battle that neither could win. Along came the fisherman and claimed the both of them. The moral of the story is obvious.

Both the Japanese and Vietnamese have borrowed this proverb.

2. Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

SCOLOPACINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Scolopax                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Scolopax rusticola Eurasian woodcock Woodcock 丘鹬 (丘鷸) qiū-yù 'hill snipe' (山鹬) 山鷸 shān-yù 'mountain snipe'   ヤマシギ (山鷸 ~ 山鴫) yama shigi 'mountain snipe' 멧도요 me-t-doyo 'mountain snipe' Chim Dẽ gà 'fowl snipe (bird)' or Chim Nhát bà 'grandmother nhat (bird)' Буурал хомноот buural khomnoot 'greyish woodcock' Former official: Хомноот khomnoot 'woodcock'

GALLINAGININAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Lymnocryptes                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Lymnocryptes minimus Jack snipe 姬鹬 (姬鷸) jī-yù 'girl snipe' (小鹬) 小鷸 xiǎo-yù 'little snipe'   コシギ (小鷸 ~ 小鴫) ko-shigi 'little snipe' 꼬마도요 kkoma-doyo 'midget snipe' Chim Dẽ giun nhỏ 'small worm-snipe (bird)' Бичил салалж bichil salalj 'small salalj' Former official: Хөгчүүхэй khögchüükhei 'khögchüükhei' Gallinago                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Gallinago solitaria Capella solitaria Solitary snipe 孤沙锥 (孤沙錐) gū shā-zhuī 'solitary sand-drill'     アオシギ (青鷸 ~ 青鴫) ao-shigi 'blue/green snipe' 청도요 cheong-doyo 'green snipe'   Өнчин хараалж öŋchiŋ kharaalj 'orphan snipe' Gallinago hardwickii Capella hardwickii Latham's snipe or Japanese snipe 澳南沙锥 (澳南沙錐) ào nán shā-zhuī 'Australian southern sand-drill' (大地鹬) 大地鷸 dà dì-yù 'large ground snipe'   オオジシギ (大地鷸 ~ 大地鴫) ō ji-shigi 'large ground snipe' 큰꺅도요 keun-kkyak-doyo 'large kkyak doyo' (kkyak may represent cry)     Gallinago nemoricola Capella nemoricola Wood snipe 林沙锥 (林沙錐) lín shā-zhuī 'forest sand-drill'     モリジシギ (森地鷸 ~ 森地鴫) mori ji-shigi 'forest ground snipe' (Wikipedia)   Chim Dẽ giun lớn 'large worm-snipe (bird)'   Gallinago stenura Capella stenura Pintail snipe or Pin-tailed snipe 针尾沙锥 (針尾沙錐) zhēn-wěi shā-zhuī 'needle-tailed sand-drill' (針尾鹬) 針尾鷸 zhēn-wěi yù 'needle-tailed snipe'   ハリオシギ (針尾鷸 ~ 針尾鴫) hari-o shigi 'needle-tailed snipe' 바늘꼬리도요 baneul-kkori-doyo 'needle-tailed snipe' Chim Dẽ giun Á Châu 'Asian worm-snipe (bird)' Замбын хараалж zambiŋ kharaalj 'zambin snipe' (замба zamba unclear, may be a type of flower, a fence, or a lizard) Gallinago megala Capella megala Swinhoe's snipe 大沙锥 (大沙錐) dà shā-zhuī 'large sand-drill' (中地鹬) 中地鷸 zhōng dì-yù 'medium ground snipe' 北鹬 (北鷸) běi yù 'northern snipe' チュウジシギ (中地鷸 ~ 中地鴫) chū ji-shigi 'medium ground snipe' 꺅도요사촌 kkyak-doyo-sachon 'kkyak doyo cousin' (i.e., cousin to Gallinago galliinago)   Шугуйн хараалж shuguiŋ kharaalj 'bush snipe' Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Gallinago gallinago Capella gallinago Common snipe Fantail snipe 扇尾沙锥 (扇尾沙錐) shàn-wěi shā-zhuī 'fan-tailed sand-drill' (田鹬) 田鷸 tián-yù 'paddy snipe' 扇尾鹬 (扇尾鷸) shàn-wěi yù 'fan-tailed snipe' 水 (水) shuǐ-zhā 'water zha' (where the zha is used for water birds) タシギ (田鷸 ~ 田鴫) ta-shigi 'paddy snipe' 꺅도요 kkyak-doyo 'kkyak doyo' (kkyak may refer to cry) Chim Dẽ giun 'worm-snipe (bird)' Chim Dẽ giun thường 'common worm-snipe (bird)' (13) Шөвгөн хараалж shövgöŋ kharaalj 'awl (=sharp-pointed) snipe' Limnodromus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Limnodromus scolopaceus Long-billed dowitcher Long-billed reedhaunter 长嘴半蹼鹬 (長嘴半蹼鷸) cháng-zuǐ bàn-pǔ yù 'long-billed half-webbed snipe' (长嘴半蹼鹬) 長嘴半蹼鷸 cháng-zuǐ bàn-pǔ yù 'long-billed half-webbed snipe' 沙溜子 (沙溜子) shā liúzi 'sand liuzi' 小水扎子 (小水扎子) xiǎo shuǐ zhāzi 'small water zhazi' (cf zhā) オオハシシギ (大嘴鷸 ~ 大嘴鴫) ō-hashi shigi 'large-billed snipe' 긴부리도요 gin-buri-doyo 'long-billed snipe' Chim Dẽ mỏ dài 'long-billed snipe (bird)' (13) Хараалжин цууцил kharaaljiŋ tsuutsil 'snipe tsuutsil' Former official: Хараалжин цууцаль kharaaljiŋ tsuutsal' 'snipe tsuutsal'' Limnodromus semipalmatus Asian dowitcher Asiatic dowitcher 半蹼鹬 (半蹼鷸) bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed snipe' (半蹼鹬) 半蹼鷸 bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed snipe'   シベリアオオハシシギ (シベリア大嘴鷸 ~ シベリア大嘴鴫) shiberia ō-hashi shigi 'Siberian large-billed snipe' 큰부리도요 keun-buri-doyo 'large-billed snipe' Chim Dẽ chân màng lớn 'large web-footed snipe (bird)' Азийн цууцил aziŋ tsuutsil 'Asian tsuutsil' Former official: Азийн цууцаль aziŋ tsuutsal' 'Asian tsuutsal''

TRINGINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Limosa                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit 黑尾塍鹬 (黑尾塍鷸) hēi-wěi chéng-yù 'black-tailed paddy-path snipe' (黑尾鹬) 黑尾鷸 hēi-wěi yù 'black-tailed snipe'   オグロシギ (尾黒鷸 ~ 尾黒鴫) o-guro shigi 'black-tailed snipe' 흑꼬리도요 heuk-kkori-doyo 'black-tailed snipe' Chim Choắt mỏ thẳng đuôi đen 'black-tailed straight-billed choat bird' Морин цууцал moriŋ tsuutsal 'horse tsuutsal' Former official: Морин цууцаль moriŋ tsuutsal' 'horse tsuutsal'' Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed godwit 斑尾塍鹬 (斑尾塍鷸) bān-wěi chéng-yù 'stripe-tailed paddy-path snipe' (斑尾鹬) 斑尾鷸 bān-wěi yù 'stripe-tailed snipe'   オオソリハシシギ (大反嘴鷸 ~ 大反嘴鴫) ō sori-hashi shigi 'large curved-billed snipe' 큰뒷부리도요 keun-dwit-buri-doyo 'large back-billed (?) snipe' Chim Choắt mỏ thẳng đuôi vằn 'stripe-tailed straight-billed choat bird' Хурган цууцал khurgaŋ tsuutsal 'lamb tsuutsal' Former official: Хурган цууцаль khurgaŋ tsuutsal' 'lamb tsuutsal'' Numenius                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Numenius minutus Little curlew Little whimbrel 小杓鹬 (小杓鷸) xiǎo sháo-yù 'small spoon-snipe' (小杓鹬) 小杓鷸 xiǎo sháo-yù 'small spoon-snipe' 小油老罐 (小油老罐) xiǎo yóu lǎo guàn 'little oil old can' 吉吉格-套套 (吉吉格-套套) jíjígé tàotào 'small taotao' (appears to be Mongolian) 勒金 (勒金) lè jīn 'le-jin' コシャクシギ (小杓鷸 ~ 小杓鴫) ko shaku-shigi 'small ladle snipe' 쇠부리도요 soe-buri-doyo 'small-billed snipe'   Бичилхэн тутгалжин bichilkheŋ tutgaljiŋ 'doll curlew' Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 中杓鹬 (中杓鷸) zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon-snipe' (中杓鹬) 中杓鷸 zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon-snipe'   チュウシャクシギ (中杓鷸 ~ 中杓鴫) chū shaku-shigi 'medium ladle snipe' 중부리도요 jung-buri-doyo 'medium-billed snipe Chim Choắt mỏ cong bé 'tiny curved-billed choat bird' Бэсрэг тутгалжин besreg tutgaljiŋ 'compact ? curlew' Numenius arquata Eurasian curlew Western curlew Curlew Common curlew 白腰杓鹬 (白腰杓鷸) bái-yāo sháo-yù 'white-rumped spoon-snipe' (大杓鹬) 大杓鷸 dà sháo-yù 'large spoon-snipe' 杓鹬 (杓鷸) sháo-yù 'spoon-snipe' ダイシャクシギ (大杓鷸 ~ 大杓鴫) dai shaku-shigi 'large ladle snipe' 마도요 ma-doyo 'horse doyo' Chim Choắt mỏ cong lớn 'large curved-billed choat bird' Морин тутгалжин moriŋ tutgaljiŋ 'horse curlew' Numenius madagascariensis Far eastern curlew or Eastern curlew Red-rumped curlew Australian curlew 大杓鹬 (大杓鷸) dà sháo-yù 'large spoon-snipe' (1, 2, 3, 4) 红腰杓鹬 (紅腰杓鷸) hóng-yāo sháo-yù 'red-rumped spoon-snipe' (5. Alternative in 1) (黦鹬) 黦鷸 yuè yù 'yellowish-black snipe' 大喽儿 (大嘍兒) dà lóur 'large lour' ホウロクシギ (焙烙鷸 ~ 焙烙鴫) hōroku shigi 'baking-pan snipe' 알락꼬리마도요 allak-kkori-ma-doyo 'speckled-tailed horse snipe' Chim Choắt mỏ cong hông nâu 'brown-rumped curved-billed choat bird' Мадагаскар тутгалжин madagaskar tutgaljiŋ 'Madagascar curlew' Tringa                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Tringa erythropus Spotted redshank 鹤鹬 (鶴鷸) hè yù 'crane snipe' (1, 2, 3, 4) 红脚鹤鹬 (紅腳鶴鷸) hóng-jiǎo hè yù 'red-legged crane snipe' (5. Alternative in 1) (鹤鹬) 鶴鷸 hè yù 'crane snipe'   ツルシギ (鶴鷸 ~ 鶴鴫) tsuru shigi 'crane snipe' 학도요 hak-doyo 'crane snipe' Chim Choắt chân đỏ 'red-legged choat bird' Хар хөгчүү khar khögchüü 'black sandpiper' Tringa totanus Common redshank 红脚鹬 (紅腳鷸) hóng-jiǎo yù 'red-legged snipe' (赤足鹬) 赤足鷸 chì-zú yù 'red-legged snipe'   アカアシシギ (赤足鷸 ~ 赤足鴫) aka-ashi shigi 'red-legged snipe' 붉은발도요 bulgeun-bal-doyo 'red-footed snipe' Chim Choắt nâu 'brown choat bird' Улаанхөлт хөгчүү ulaaŋ-khölt khögchüü 'red-legged sandpiper' Former official: Улаан хөлт хөгчүү ulaaŋ khölt khögchüü 'red legged sandpiper' Tringa stagnatilis Marsh sandpiper 泽鹬 (澤鷸) zé yù 'marsh snipe' (小青足鹬) 小青足鷸 xiǎo qīng-zú yù 'small blue/green/black-legged snipe'   コアオアシシギ (小青足鷸 ~ 小青足鴫) ko ao-ashi shigi 'small blue/green-legged snipe' 쇠청다리도요 soe-cheong-dari-doyo 'small green-legged snipe' Chim Choắt đốm đen 'black spotted choat bird' Бүрдний хөгчүү bürdni khögchüü 'oasis sandpiper' Tringa nebularia Common greenshank Greenshank 青脚鹬 (青腳鷸) qīng-jiǎo yú 'blue/green/black-legged snipe' (青足鹬) 青足鷸 qīng-zú yù 'blue/green/black-legged snipe'   アオアシシギ (青足鷸 ~ 青足鴫) ao-ashi shigi 'blue/green-legged snipe' 청다리도요 cheong-dari-doyo 'green-legged snipe' Chim Choắt lớn 'large choat bird' Үхэр хөгчүү ükher khögchüü 'ox sandpiper' Tringa guttifer Nordmann's greenshank Spotted greenshank 小青脚鹬 (小青腳鷸) xiǎo qīng-jiǎo yù 'small green/blue-legged snipe' (诺氏鹬) 諾氏鷸 nuò-shì yù 'Mr Nuo's snipe'   カラフトアオアシシギ (樺太青足鷸 ~ 樺太青足鴫) karafuto ao-ashi shigi 'Sakhalin blue/green-legged snipe' 청다리도요사촌 cheong-dari-doyo-sachon 'green-legged snipe cousin' or 쇠청다리도요사촌 soe-cheong-dari-doyo-sachon 'small green-legged snipe cousin' Chim Choắt lớn mỏ vàng 'yellow-billed large choat bird'   Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Tringa flavipes Lesser yellowlegs Lesser yellowleg 小黄脚鹬 (小黃腳鷸) xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged snipe' (小黃脚鹬) 小黃腳鷸 xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged snipe'   コキアシシギ (小黄足鷸 ~ 小黄足鴫) ko ki-ashi shigi 'small yellow-legged snipe'       Tringa ochropus Green sandpiper 白腰草鹬 (白腰草鷸) bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass snipe' (白腰草鹬) 白腹草鷸 bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass snipe' 白尾梢 (白尾梢) bái-wěi shào 'white-tailed shao' 水鸷 (水鷙) shuǐ zhì 'water zhi' クサシギ (草鷸 ~ 草鴫) kusa-shigi 'grass snipe' 삑삑도요 ppikppik-doyo 'ppik ppik doyo' Chim Choắt bụng trắng 'white-bellied choat bird' Сүүлцагаан хөгчүү süül-tsagaaŋ khögchüü 'tail-white sandpiper' Former official: Сүүл цагаан хөгчүү süül tsagaaŋ khögchüü 'tail white sandpiper' Tringa glareola Wood sandpiper 林鹬 (林鷸) lín yù 'forest snipe' (鹰斑鹬) 鷹斑鷸 yīng bān yù 'hawk-striped snipe' 水鸷 (水鷙) shuǐ zhì 'water zhi' タカブシギ (鷹斑鷸 ~ 鷹斑鴫) taka-bu shigi 'hawk-striped snipe' 알락도요 allak-doyo 'speckled snipe' Chim Choắt bụng xám 'grey-bellied choat bird' Шугуйн хөгчүү shuguiŋ khögchüü 'bush sandpiper' Xenus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Xenus cinereus Tringa cinerea Tringa cinereus Terek sandpiper 翘嘴鹬 (翹嘴鷸) qiáo-zuǐ yù 'curved-billed snipe' (反嘴鹬) 反嘴鷸 fǎn-zuǐ yù 'recurved-billed snipe' (cf avocet)   ソリハシシギ (反嘴鷸 ~ 反嘴鴫) sori-hashi shigi 'curved-billed snipe' 뒷부리도요 dwit-buri-doyo 'back-billed (?) snipe' Chim Choắt chân màng bé ' tiny web-footed choat bird' Матигар хөгчүүлэг mat'gar khögchüüleg 'curved sandpiper (variant)' Former official: Матигар хөгчүү mat'gar khögchüü 'curved sandpiper' Actitis                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Actitis hypoleucos Tringa hypoleucos Common sandpiper 矶鹬 (磯鷸) jī yù 'rocky-shore-snipe' (矶鹬) 磯鷸 jī yù 'rocky-shore-snipe' 小水鸷 (小水鷙) xiǎo shuǐzhì 'small water zhi' イソシギ (磯鷸 ~ 磯鴫) iso-shigi 'rocky-shore-snipe' 깝작도요 kkapjak-doyo 'light-floating (?) snipe' Chim Choắt nhỏ 'small choat bird' Эгэл хайргын хөгчүү egel khairgiŋ khögchüü 'common pebble ? sandpiper' Former official: Хайргын хөгчүү khairgiŋ khögchüü 'pebble ? sandpiper' Heteroscelus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Heteroscelus brevipes Tringa brevipes Grey-tailed tattler Asian tattler Grey-rumped sandpiper 灰尾漂鹬 (灰尾漂鷸) huī-wěi piāo-yù 'grey-tailed floating snipe' or 灰尾鹬 (灰尾鷸) huī-wěi yù 'grey-tailed snipe' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5) (黃足鹬) 黃足鷸 huáng-zú yù 'yellow-legged snipe'   キアシシギ (黄足鷸 ~ 黄足鴫) ki-ashi shigi 'yellow-legged snipe' 노랑발도요 norang-bal-doyo 'yellow-legged snipe' Chim Choắt lùn đuôi xám 'grey-tailed dwarf choat bird' Буурал хөгчүүхэй buural khögchüükhei 'greyish sandpiper (variant)' Former official: Буурал хөгчүү buural khögchüü 'greyish sandpiper'

Floating Menu by Milonic

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Tool tips by Walter Zorn

Scolopacidae 2