- Scolopacidae - シギ科 -

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. 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 鷸/鴫 shigi, 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 shigi' is a season word for summer.

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; the fisherman profits'. This derives from an old story of a snipe/sandpiper who inserted his bill in the clam's shell in order to eat it. 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 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

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

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

GALLINAGININAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Lymnocryptes
Lymnocryptes minimus	Jack snipe Bécassine sourde Zwergschnepfe Гаршнеп	コシギ (小鷸 or 小鴫) ko-shigi 'little shigi'		姬鹬 (姬鷸) jī-yù 'girl yu'	小鷸 xiǎo-yù 'little yu'		꼬마도요 kkoma-doyo 'midget doyo'
Gallinago
Gallinago solitaria Capella solitaria	Solitary snipe Bécassine solitaire Einsiedlerbekassine Горный дупель	アオシギ (青鷸 or 青鴫) ao-shigi 'blue shigi'		孤沙锥 (孤沙錐) gū shā-zhuī 'solitary snipe'			청도요 cheong-doyo 'green doyo'
Gallinago hardwickii Capella hardwickii	Latham's snipe or Japanese snipe Bécassine du Japon Japanbekassine Японский бекас	オオジシギ (大地鷸 or 大地鴫) ō ji-shigi 'large ground shigi'	カミナリシギ (雷鷸 or 雷鴫) kaminari-shigi 'thunder shigi' (old name)	澳南沙锥 (澳南沙錐) Ào nán shā-zhuī 'Australian southern snipe'	大地鷸 dà dì-yù 'large ground yu'		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 or 針尾鴫) hari-o shigi 'needle-tailed shigi'		针尾沙锥 (針尾沙錐) zhēn-wěi shā-zhuī 'needle-tailed snipe'	針尾鷸 zhēn-wěi yù 'needle-tailed yu'		바늘꼬리도요 baneul-kkori-doyo 'needle-tailed doyo'
Gallinago megala Capella megala	Swinhoe's snipe Bécassine de Swinhoe Waldbekassine Лесной дупель	チュウジシギ (中地鷸 or 中地鴫) chū ji-shigi 'medium ground shigi'		大沙锥 (大沙錐) dà shā-zhuī 'large snipe'	中地鷸 zhōng dì-yù 'medium ground yu'	北鹬 (北鷸) běi yù 'northern yu'	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 or 田鴫) ta-shigi 'paddy shigi'		扇尾沙锥 (扇尾沙錐) shàn-wěi shā-zhuī 'fan-tailed snipe'	田鷸 tián-yù 'paddy yu'	扇尾鹬 (扇尾鷸) shàn-wěi yù 'fan-tailed yu' 水 shuǐ-zhā 'water zha' (where the zha is a kind of water bird)	꺅도요 kkyak-doyo 'kkyak doyo' (kkyak may refer to cry)
Limnodromus
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 or 大嘴鴫) ō-hashi shigi 'large-billed shigi'		长嘴半蹼鹬 (長嘴半蹼鷸) cháng-zuǐ bàn-pǔ yù 'long-billed half-webbed yu'	長嘴半蹼鷸 cháng-zuǐ bàn-pǔ yù 'long-billed half-webbed yu'	沙溜子 (沙溜子) shā liúzi 'sand liuzi' 小水扎子 xiǎo shuǐ zhāzi 'small water zhazi'	긴부리도요 gin-buri-doyo 'long-billed doyo'
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 or シベリア大嘴鴫) Shiberia ō-hashi shigi 'Siberian large-billed shigi'		半蹼鹬 (半蹼鷸) bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed yu'	半蹼鷸 bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed yu'		큰부리도요 keun-buri-doyo 'large-billed doyo'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean

TRINGINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		JAPANESE		CHINESE			KOREAN
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Limosa
Limosa limosa	Black-tailed godwit Barge à queue noire Uferschnepfe Большой веретенник	オグロシギ (尾黒鷸 or 尾黒鴫) o-guro shigi 'black-tailed shigi'		黑尾塍鹬 (黑尾塍鷸) hēi-wěi chéng-yù 'black-tailed paddy-path yu'	黑尾鷸 hēi-wěi yù 'black-tailed yu'		흑꼬리도요 heuk-kkori-doyo 'black-tailed doyo'
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed godwit Barge rousse Pfuhlschnepfe Малый веретенник	オオソリハシシギ (大反嘴鷸 or 大反嘴鴫) ō sori-hashi shigi 'large curved-billed shigi'		斑尾塍鹬 (斑尾塍鷸) bān-wěi chéng-yù 'spot/stripe-tailed paddy-path yu'	斑尾鷸 bān-wěi yù 'spot/stripe-tailed yu'		큰뒷부리도요 keun-dwit-buri-doyo 'large back-billed (?) doyo'
Numenius
Numenius minutus	Little curlew Little whimbrel Courlis nain Zwergbrachvogel Кроншнеп - малютка	コシャクシギ (小杓鷸 or 小杓鴫) ko shaku-shigi 'small ladle shigi'		小杓鹬 (小杓鷸) xiǎo sháo-yù 'small spoon yu'	小杓鷸 xiǎo sháo-yù 'small spoon yu'	小油老罐 xiǎo yóu lǎo guàn 'little oil old can' 吉吉格－套套 jíjígé tàotào 'small taotao' (appears to be Mongolian) 勒金 lè jīn 'le-jin'	쇠부리도요 soe-buri-doyo 'small-billed doyo'
Numenius phaeopus	Whimbrel Courlis corlieu Regenbrachvogel Кроншнеп средний	チュウシャクシギ (中杓鷸 or 中杓鴫) chū shaku-shigi 'medium ladle shigi'		中杓鹬 (中杓鷸) zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon yu'	中杓鷸 zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon yu'		중부리도요 jung-buri-doyo 'medium-billed doyo
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 or 針股中杓鴫) hari-momo chū shaku-shigi 'needle-thighed ladle shigi'		太平洋杓鹬 (太平洋杓鷸) Tàipíng-yáng sháo-yù 'Pacific spoon yu' (4) 鬃腿杓鹬 (鬃腿杓鷸) zōng tuǐ sháo-yù 'bristle-thighed spoon yu' (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 or 白腹中杓鴫) shiro-hara chū shaku-shigi 'white-bellied medium ladle shigi'		细嘴杓鹬 (細嘴杓鷸) xì-zuǐ sháo-yù 'fine-billed spoon yu'
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 or 大杓鴫) dai shaku-shigi 'large ladle shigi'		白腰杓鹬 (白腰杓鷸) bái-yāo sháo-yù 'white-rumped spoon yu'	大杓鷸 dà sháo-yù 'large spoon yu'	杓鹬 (杓鷸) sháo-yù 'spoon yu'	마도요 ma-doyo 'horse doyo'
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 or 焙烙鴫) hōroku shigi 'baking-pan shigi'		大杓鹬 (大杓鷸) dà sháo-yù 'large spoon yu' (1, 2, 3, 4) 红腰杓鹬 (紅腰杓鷸) hóng-yāo sháo-yù 'red-rumped spoon yu' (5. Alternative in 1)	黦鷸 yuè yù 'yellowish-black yu'	大喽儿 (大嘍兒) dà lóur 'large lour'	알락꼬리마도요 allak-kkori-ma-doyo 'speckled-tailed horse doyo'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Tringa
Tringa erythropus	Spotted redshank Chevalier arlequin Dunkler Wasserläufer Щеголь	ツルシギ (鶴鷸 or 鶴鴫) tsuru shigi 'crane shigi'		鹤鹬 (鶴鷸) hè yù 'crane yu' (1, 2, 3, 4) 红脚鹤鹬 (紅腳鶴鷸) hóng-jiǎo hè yù 'red-legged crane yu' (5. Alternative in 1)	鶴鷸 hè yù 'crane yu'		학도요 hak-doyo 'crane doyo'
Tringa totanus	Common redshank Chevalier gambette Rotschenkel Травник	アカアシシギ (赤足鷸 or 赤足鴫) aka-ashi shigi 'red-legged shigi'	アカガネシギ (銅鷸 or 銅鴫) aka-gane shigi 'copper shigi'	红脚鹬 (紅腳鷸) hóng-jiǎo yù 'red-legged yu'	赤足鷸 chì-zú yù 'red-legged yu'		붉은발도요 bulgeun-bal-doyo 'red-footed doyo'
Tringa stagnatilis	Marsh sandpiper Chevalier stagnatile Teichwasserläufer Поручейник	コアオアシシギ (小青足鷸 or 小青足鴫) ko ao-ashi shigi 'small green-legged shigi'		泽鹬 (澤鷸) zé yù 'marsh yu'	小青足鷸 xiǎo qīng-zú yù 'small green-legged yu'		쇠청다리도요 soe-cheong-dari-doyo 'small green-legged doyo'
Tringa nebularia	Common greenshank Greenshank Chevalier aboyeur Grünschenkel Большой улит	アオアシシギ (青足鷸 or 青足鴫) ao-ashi shigi 'green-legged shigi'		青脚鹬 (青腳鷸) qīng-jiǎo yú 'green-legged yu'	青足鷸 qīng-zú yù 'green-legged yu'		청다리도요 cheong-dari-doyo 'green-legged doyo'
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 or 樺太青足鴫) Karafuto ao-ashi shigi 'Sakhalin green-legged shigi'		小青脚鹬 (小青腳鷸) xiǎo qīng-jiǎo yù 'small green-legged yu'	諾氏鷸 Nuò-shì yù 'Mr Nuo's yu'		청다리도요사촌 cheong-dari-doyo-sachon 'green-legged doyo cousin' or 쇠청다리도요사촌 soe-cheong-dari-doyo-sachon 'small green-legged doyo cousin'
Tringa melanoleuca	Greater yellowlegs Greater yellowleg Grand Chevalier Großer Gelbschenkel Пёстрый улит	オオキアシシギ (大黄足鷸 or 大黄足鴫) ō ki-ashi shigi 'large yellow-legged shigi'		大黄脚鹬 (大黃腳鷸) dà huáng-jiǎo yù 'large yellow-legged yu'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean
Tringa flavipes	Lesser yellowlegs Lesser yellowleg Petit Chevalier Kleiner Gelbschenkel Желтоногий улит	コキアシシギ (小黄足鷸 or 小黄足鴫) ko ki-ashi shigi 'small yellow-legged shigi'		小黄脚鹬 (小黃腳鷸) xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged yu'	小黃腳鷸 xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged yu'
Tringa ochropus	Green sandpiper Chevalier cul-blanc Waldwasserläufer Черныш	クサシギ (草鷸 or 草鴫) kusa-shigi 'grass shigi'		白腰草鹬 (白腰草鷸) bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass yu'	白腰草鷸 bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass yu'	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 or 鷹斑鴫) taka-bu shigi 'hawk-striped shigi'		林鹬 (林鷸) lín yù 'forest yu'	鷹斑鷸 yīng bān yù 'hawk-striped yu'	水鸷 (水鷙) shuǐ zhì 'water zhi'	알락도요 allak-doyo 'speckled doyo'
Xenus
Xenus cinereus Tringa cinerea Tringa cinereus	Terek sandpiper Chevalier bargette Terekwasserläufer Мородунка	ソリハシシギ (反嘴鷸 or 反嘴鴫) sori-hashi shigi 'curved-bill shigi'		翘嘴鹬 (翹嘴鷸) qiáo-zuǐ yù 'curved bill yu'	反嘴鷸 fǎn-zuǐ yù 'reverse-billed yu'		뒷부리도요 dwit-buri-doyo 'back-billed (?) doyo'
Actitis
Actitis hypoleucos Tringa hypoleucos	Common sandpiper Chevalier guignette Flußuferläufer Перевозчик	イソシギ (磯鷸 or 磯鴫) iso-shigi 'rocky-shore shigi'		矶鹬 (磯鷸) jī yù 'rocky-shore yu'	磯鷸 jī yù 'rocky-shore yu'	小水鸷 (小水鷙) xiǎo shuǐzhì 'small water zhi'	깝작도요 kkapjakdoyo 'light-floating (?) doyo'
Heteroscelus
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 or 黄足鴫) ki-ashi shigi 'yellow-legged shigi'		灰尾漂鹬 (灰尾漂鷸) huī-wěi piāo-yù 'grey-tailed floating yu' or 灰尾鹬 huī-wěi yù 'grey-tailed yu' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5)	黃足鷸 huáng-zú yù 'yellow-legged yu'		노랑발도요 norang-bal-doyo 'yellow-footed doyo'
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 or メリケン黄足鴫) Meriken ki-ashi shigi 'American yellow-legged shigi'		漂鹬 piāo-yù 'floating yu' or 灰鹬 (灰鷸) huī yù 'grey yu' (Alternative in 1)	美洲黃足鷸 Měizhōu huáng-zú yù 'American yellow-legged yu'
Latin	Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru	Japanese	Other J	Chinese	Chinese (Taiwan)	Other Ch	Korean

Scolopacidae / シギ科 (Shigi ka)

General names

2. Species names