Scolopacidae
シギ科
shigi ka

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are only tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

The Japanese term for the Scolopacidae in general is シギ shigi, written with the character 鷸. The Japanese-created character 鴫 is also used.

Several of the stints are known as トウネン tōnen, written 当年 meaning 'this year'. (One suggestion is that they were so named because of their small size, that is, they were born 'this year'.) The Broad-billed Sandpiper is known as a キリアイ kiri-ai (錐合).

The Japanese official names are clearly of 19th century vintage and are very conservative. This is evident from the use of the archaic word メリケン meriken for 'America' in the name of Heteroscelus incanus. The Japanese names have had a strong influence on the Chinese names, most visible in the Taiwanese names but also quite evident in the Mainland names despite efforts at 'regularisation'.

In Japanese haiku, the shigi (鷸/鴫), referring to various kinds of snipe, woodcocks, and related birds, is a season word for autumn. The Latham's or Japanese snipe, known as かみなりしぎ kaminari-shigi (雷鴫) 'thunder snipe' is a season word for summer.

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

The Japanese have taken this proverb from the Chinese, but use it in the highly truncated form 漁父の利 gyofu no ri 'the fisherman's profit', which means nothing unless you know the story.

2. Species names

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SCOLOPACINAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Scolopax               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Scolopax rusticola Eurasian woodcock Woodcock Bécasse des bois Waldschnepfe Вальдшнеп ヤマシギ (山鷸 ~ 山鴫) yama shigi 'mountain snipe' ボトシギ (ぼと鷸 ~ ぼと鴫) boto shigi 'boto snipe' 丘鹬 (丘鷸) qiū-yù 'hill snipe' (山鹬) 山鷸 shān-yù 'mountain snipe'   멧도요 me-t-doyo 'mountain snipe' Scolopax mira Amami woodcock Bécasse d'Amami Amamischnepfe アマミヤマシギ (奄美山鷸 ~ 奄美山鴫) amami yama-shigi 'Amami mountain snipe'   琉球丘鹬 (琉球丘鷸) liúqiú qiū-yù 'Ryukyu hill snipe'

GALLINAGININAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Lymnocryptes               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Lymnocryptes minimus Jack snipe Bécassine sourde Zwergschnepfe Гаршнеп コシギ (小鷸 ~ 小鴫) ko-shigi 'small snipe'   姬鹬 (姬鷸) jī-yù 'girl snipe' (小鹬) 小鷸 xiǎo-yù 'little snipe'   꼬마도요 kkoma-doyo 'midget snipe' Gallinago               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Gallinago solitaria Capella solitaria Solitary snipe Bécassine solitaire Einsiedlerbekassine Горный дупель アオシギ (青鷸 ~ 青鴫) ao-shigi 'blue/green snipe'   孤沙锥 (孤沙錐) gū shā-zhuī 'solitary sand-drill'     청도요 cheong-doyo 'green snipe' Gallinago hardwickii Capella hardwickii Latham's snipe or Japanese snipe Bécassine du Japon Japanbekassine Японский бекас オオジシギ (大地鷸 ~ 大地鴫) ō ji-shigi 'large ground snipe' カミナリシギ (雷鷸 ~ 雷鴫) kaminari-shigi 'thunder snipe' (old name) 澳南沙锥 (澳南沙錐) ào nán shā-zhuī 'Australian southern snipe' (大地鹬) 大地鷸 dà dì-yù 'large ground snipe'   큰꺅도요 keun-kkyak-doyo 'large kkyak doyo' (kkyak may represent cry) Gallinago stenura Capella stenura Pintail snipe or Pin-tailed snipe Bécassine à queue pointue Spießbekassine Азиатский бекас ハリオシギ (針尾鷸 ~ 針尾鴫) hari-o shigi 'needle-tailed snipe'   针尾沙锥 (針尾沙錐) zhēn-wěi shā-zhuī 'needle-tailed sand-drill' (针尾鹬) 針尾鷸 zhēn-wěi yù 'needle-tailed snipe'   바늘꼬리도요 baneul-kkori-doyo 'needle-tailed snipe' Gallinago megala Capella megala Swinhoe's snipe Bécassine de Swinhoe Waldbekassine Лесной дупель チュウジシギ (中地鷸 ~ 中地鴫) chū ji-shigi 'medium ground 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' 꺅도요사촌 kkyak-doyo-sachon 'kkyak doyo cousin' (i.e., cousin to Gallinago galliinago) Gallinago gallinago Capella gallinago Common snipe Fantail snipe Bécassine des marais Bekassine Бекас タシギ (田鷸 ~ 田鴫) ta-shigi 'paddy 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) 꺅도요 kkyak-doyo 'kkyak doyo' (kkyak may refer to cry) Limnodromus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Limnodromus scolopaceus Long-billed dowitcher Long-billed reedhaunter Bécassin à long bec Großer Schlammläufer Американский бекасовидный オオハシシギ (大嘴鷸 ~ 大嘴鴫) ō-hashi shigi 'large-billed snipe'   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) 긴부리도요 gin-buri-doyo 'long-billed snipe' Limnodromus semipalmatus Asian dowitcher Asiatic dowitcher Bécassin d'Asie Steppenschlammläufer Азиатский бекасовидный 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'   半蹼鹬 (半蹼鷸) bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed snipe' (半蹼鹬) 半蹼鷸 bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed snipe'   큰부리도요 keun-buri-doyo 'large-billed snipe'

TRINGINAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Limosa               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit Barge à queue noire Uferschnepfe Большой веретенник オグロシギ (尾黒鷸 ~ 尾黒鴫) o-guro shigi 'black-tailed snipe'   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'   흑꼬리도요 heuk-kkori-doyo 'black-tailed snipe' Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed godwit Barge rousse Pfuhlschnepfe Малый веретенник オオソリハシシギ (大反嘴鷸 ~ 大反嘴鴫) ō sori-hashi shigi 'large curved-billed snipe'   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'   큰뒷부리도요 keun-dwit-buri-doyo 'large back-billed (?) snipe' Numenius               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Numenius minutus Little curlew Little whimbrel Courlis nain Zwergbrachvogel Кроншнеп - малютка コシャクシギ (小杓鷸 ~ 小杓鴫) ko shaku-shigi 'small ladle snipe'   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' 쇠부리도요 soe-buri-doyo 'small-billed snipe' Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel Courlis corlieu Regenbrachvogel Кроншнеп средний チュウシャクシギ (中杓鷸 ~ 中杓鴫) chū shaku-shigi 'medium ladle snipe'   中杓鹬 (中杓鷸) zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon-snipe' (中杓鹬) 中杓鷸 zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon-snipe'   중부리도요 jung-buri-doyo 'medium-billed snipe Numenius tahitiensis Bristle-thighed curlew Courlis d'Alaska Borstenbrachvogel Таитянский кроншнеп ハリモモチュウシャクシギ (針股中杓鷸 ~ 針股中杓鴫) hari-momo chū shaku-shigi 'needle-thighed ladle snipe'   太平洋杓鹬 (太平洋杓鷸) tàipíng-yáng sháo-yù 'Pacific spoon-snipe' (4) 鬃腿杓鹬 (鬃腿杓鷸) zōng tuǐ sháo-yù 'bristle-thighed spoon-snipe' (5)       Numenius tenuirostris Slender-billed curlew Courlis à bec grêle Dünnschnabel-Brachvogel Тонкоклювый кроншнеп シロハラチュウシャクシギ (白腹中杓鷸 ~ 白腹中杓鴫) shiro-hara chū shaku-shigi 'white-bellied medium ladle snipe'   细嘴杓鹬 (細嘴杓鷸) xì-zuǐ sháo-yù 'fine-billed spoon-snipe'       Numenius arquata Eurasian curlew Western curlew Curlew Common curlew Courlis cendré Großer Brachvogel Большой кроншнеп ダイシャクシギ (大杓鷸 ~ 大杓鴫) dai shaku-shigi 'large ladle snipe'   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' 마도요 ma-doyo 'horse doyo' Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Numenius madagascariensis Far eastern curlew or Eastern curlew Red-rumped curlew Australian curlew Courlis de Sibérie Isabellbrachvogel Дальневосточный ホウロクシギ (焙烙鷸 ~ 焙烙鴫) hōroku shigi 'baking-pan snipe'   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' 알락꼬리마도요 allak-kkori-ma-doyo 'speckled-tailed horse snipe' Tringa               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Tringa erythropus Spotted redshank Chevalier arlequin Dunkler Wasserläufer Щеголь ツルシギ (鶴鷸 ~ 鶴鴫) tsuru shigi 'crane snipe'   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'   학도요 hak-doyo 'crane snipe' Tringa totanus Common redshank Chevalier gambette Rotschenkel Травник アカアシシギ (赤足鷸 ~ 赤足鴫) aka-ashi shigi 'red-legged snipe' アカガネシギ (銅鷸 ~ 銅鴫) aka-gane shigi 'copper snipe' 红脚鹬 (紅腳鷸) hóng-jiǎo yù 'red-legged snipe' (赤足鹬) 赤足鷸 chì-zú yù 'red-legged snipe'   붉은발도요 bulgeun-bal-doyo 'red-footed snipe' Tringa stagnatilis Marsh sandpiper Chevalier stagnatile Teichwasserläufer Поручейник コアオアシシギ (小青足鷸 ~ 小青足鴫) ko ao-ashi shigi 'small blue/green-legged snipe'   泽鹬 (澤鷸) zé yù 'marsh snipe' (小青足鹬) 小青足鷸 xiǎo qīng-zú yù 'small green/blue-legged snipe'   쇠청다리도요 soe-cheong-dari-doyo 'small green-legged snipe' Tringa nebularia Common greenshank Greenshank Chevalier aboyeur Grünschenkel Большой улит アオアシシギ (青足鷸 ~ 青足鴫) ao-ashi shigi 'blue/green-legged snipe'   青脚鹬 (青腳鷸) qīng-jiǎo yú 'green/blue-legged snipe' (青足鹬) 青足鷸 qīng-zú yù 'green/blue-legged snipe'   청다리도요 cheong-dari-doyo 'green-legged snipe' Tringa guttifer Nordmann's greenshank Spotted greenshank Chevalier tacheté Tüpfelgrünschenkel Охотский улит 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'   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'   청다리도요사촌 cheong-dari-doyo-sachon 'green-legged snipe cousin' or 쇠청다리도요사촌 soe-cheong-dari-doyo-sachon 'small green-legged snipe cousin' Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Tringa melanoleuca Greater yellowlegs Greater yellowleg Grand Chevalier Großer Gelbschenkel Пёстрый улит オオキアシシギ (大黄足鷸 ~ 大黄足鴫) ō ki-ashi shigi 'large yellow-legged snipe'   大黄脚鹬 (大黃腳鷸) dà huáng-jiǎo yù 'large yellow-legged snipe'       Tringa flavipes Lesser yellowlegs Lesser yellowleg Petit Chevalier Kleiner Gelbschenkel Желтоногий улит コキアシシギ (小黄足鷸 ~ 小黄足鴫) ko ki-ashi shigi 'small yellow-legged snipe'   小黄脚鹬 (小黃腳鷸) xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged snipe' (小黄脚鹬) 小黃腳鷸 xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged snipe'     Tringa ochropus Green sandpiper Chevalier cul-blanc Waldwasserläufer Черныш クサシギ (草鷸 ~ 草鴫) kusa-shigi 'grass snipe'   白腰草鹬 (白腰草鷸) bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass snipe' (白腰草鹬) 白腰草鷸 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' 삑삑도요 ppikppik-doyo 'ppik ppik doyo' Tringa glareola Wood sandpiper Chevalier sylvain Bruchwasserläufer Фифи タカブシギ (鷹斑鷸 ~ 鷹斑鴫) taka-bu shigi 'hawk-striped snipe'   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' 알락도요 allak-doyo 'speckled snipe' Xenus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Xenus cinereus Tringa cinerea Tringa cinereus Terek sandpiper Chevalier bargette Terekwasserläufer Мородунка ソリハシシギ (反嘴鷸 ~ 反嘴鴫) sori-hashi shigi 'curved-billed snipe'   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)   뒷부리도요 dwit-buri-doyo 'back-billed (?) snipe' Actitis               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Actitis hypoleucos Tringa hypoleucos Common sandpiper Chevalier guignette Flußuferläufer Перевозчик イソシギ (磯鷸 ~ 磯鴫) iso-shigi 'rocky-shore-snipe'   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' 깝작도요 kkapjakdoyo 'light-floating (?) snipe' Heteroscelus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Heteroscelus brevipes Tringa brevipes Grey-tailed tattler Asian tattler Grey-rumped sandpiper Chevalier de Sibérie Grauschwanz-Wasserläufer Сибирский пепельный キアシシギ (黄足鷸 ~ 黄足鴫) ki-ashi shigi 'yellow-legged snipe'   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) (黄足鹬) 黃足鷸 huáng-zú yù 'yellow-legged snipe'   노랑발도요 norang-bal-doyo 'yellow-footed snipe' Heteroscelus incanus Tringa incana Heteroscelus incana Wandering tattler American tattler Chevalier errant Wanderwasserläufer Американский пепельный улит メリケンキアシシギ (メリケン黄足鷸 ~ メリケン黄足鴫) meriken ki-ashi shigi 'American yellow-legged snipe'   漂鹬 (漂鷸) piāo-yù 'floating snipe' or 灰鹬 (灰鷸) huī yù 'grey snipe' (Alternative in 1) (美洲黄足鹬) 美洲黃足鷸 měizhōu huáng-zú yù 'American yellow-legged snipe'

Floating Menu by Milonic

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Tool tips by Walter Zorn

Scolopacidae 2