Scolopacidae
鷸科
yù kē

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome.

The general name for the Scolopacidae is 鷸 yù, which in Taiwan is used for all members of the family. Many of the Chinese names for birds in this family are clearly derived from Japanese.

Recently, the names of a number of the Calidridinae have been changed from the original Japanese names and regularised as 濱鷸 bīn-yù 'shore-snipe' in conformity with Mainland usage. Ironically, 濱鷸 bīn-yù itself is derived from Japanese ハマシギ (浜鷸) hama-shigi, which refers to the Dunlin.

The Mainland names show occasional contradictions with the Taiwanese names. 大杓鷸 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 of the latter has now been changed to conform with the Mainland name.

For the snipe proper (the Gallinagininae), ornithologists on the Mainland use the obscure term 沙錐 shā zhuī 'sand-drill' (also sometimes found as 沙錐鳥 shā zhuī niǎo 'sand-drill bird').

The Chinese have a proverb: 鷸蚌相争，漁人得利 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.

2. Species names

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SCOLOPACINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE OTHER Scolopax                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Scolopax rusticola Eurasian woodcock Woodcock 山鷸 (山鹬) shān-yù 'mountain snipe' (丘鷸) 丘鹬 qiū-yù 'hill snipe'   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 shigi' 멧도요 me-t-doyo 'mountain snipe' Chim Dẽ gà 'fowl snipe (bird)' or Chim Nhát bà 'grandmother nhat (bird)'

GALLINAGININAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE OTHER Lymnocryptes                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Lymnocryptes minimus Jack snipe 小鷸 (小鹬) xiǎo-yù 'little snipe' (姬鷸) 姬鹬 jī-yù 'girl 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)' Gallinago                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Gallinago hardwickii Capella hardwickii Latham's snipe or Japanese snipe 大地鷸 (大地鹬) dà dì-yù 'large ground snipe' (澳南沙錐) 澳南沙锥 ào nán shā-zhuī 'Australian southern snipe'   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) 큰꺅도요 keun-kkyak-doyo 'large kkyak doyo' (kkyak may represent cry)   Gallinago stenura Capella stenura Pintail snipe or Pin-tailed snipe 針尾鷸 (针尾鹬) zhēn-wěi yù 'needle-tailed snipe' (針尾沙錐) 针尾沙锥 zhēn-wěi shā-zhuī 'needle-tailed sand-drill'   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)' Gallinago megala Capella megala Swinhoe's snipe 中地鷸 (中地鹬) zhōng dì-yù 'medium ground snipe' (大沙錐) 大沙锥 dà shā-zhuī 'large sand-drill' 北鷸 (北鹬) 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)   Gallinago gallinago Capella gallinago Common snipe Fantail snipe 田鷸 (田鹬) tián-yù 'paddy snipe' (扇尾沙錐) 扇尾沙锥 shàn-wěi shā-zhuī 'fan-tailed sand-drill' 扇尾鷸 (扇尾鹬) shàn-wěi yù 'fan-tailed snipe' 水 (水) shuǐ-zhā 'water zha' (where 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) Limnodromus                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Limnodromus scolopaceus Long-billed dowitcher Long-billed reedhaunter 長嘴半蹼鷸 (长嘴半蹼鹬) cháng-zuǐ bàn-pǔ yù 'long-billed half-webbed snipe' (長嘴半蹼鷸) 长嘴半蹼鹬 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) Not found in 12 Limnodromus semipalmatus Asian dowitcher Asiatic dowitcher 半蹼鷸 (半蹼鹬) bàn-pǔ yù 'half-webbed snipe' (半蹼鷸) 半蹼鹬 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)'

TRINGINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE JAPANESE OTHER Limosa                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit 黑尾鷸 (黑尾鹬) hēi-wěi yù 'black-tailed snipe' (黑尾塍鷸) 黑尾塍鹬 hēi-wěi chéng-yù 'black-tailed paddy-path 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' Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed godwit 斑尾鷸 (斑尾鹬) bān-wěi yù 'stripe-tailed snipe' (斑尾塍鷸) 斑尾塍鹬 bān-wěi chéng-yù 'stripe-tailed paddy-path 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' Numenius                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Numenius minutus Little curlew Little whimbrel 小杓鷸 (小杓鹬) xiǎo sháo-yù 'small spoon-snipe' (小杓鷸) 小杓鹬 xiǎo sháo-yù 'small spoon-snipe' 小油老罐 (老油老罐) 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'   Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 中杓鷸 (中杓鹬) zhōng sháo-yù 'medium spoon-snipe' (中杓鷸) 中杓鹬 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' Numenius arquata Eurasian curlew Western curlew Curlew Common curlew 大杓鷸 (大杓鹬) dà sháo-yù 'large spoon-snipe' (白腰杓鷸) 白腰杓鹬 bái-yāo sháo-yù 'white-rumped spoon-snipe' 杓鷸 (杓鹬) 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' Numenius madagascariensis Far eastern curlew or Eastern curlew Red-rumped curlew Australian curlew 黦鷸 (黦鹬) yuè yù 'yellowishblack snipe' (大杓鷸) 大杓鹬 dà sháo-yù 'large spoon-snipe' (1, 2, 3, 4) (紅腰杓鷸) 红腰杓鹬 hóng-yāo sháo-yù 'red-rumped spoon-snipe' (5. Alternative in 1) 大嘍兒 (大喽儿) 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' Tringa                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Tringa erythropus Spotted redshank 鶴鷸 (鹤鹬) hè yù 'crane snipe' (鶴鷸) 鹤鹬 hè yù 'crane snipe' (1, 2, 3, 4) (紅腳鶴鷸) 红脚鹤鹬 hóng-jiǎo hè yù 'red-legged crane snipe' (5. Alternative in 1)   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' Tringa totanus Common redshank 赤足鷸 (赤足鹬) chì-zú yù 'red-legged snipe' (紅腳鷸) 红脚鹬 hóng-jiǎo yù 'red-legged snipe'   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' 붉은발도요 bulgeun-bal-doyo 'red-footed snipe' Chim Choắt nâu 'brown choat bird' Tringa stagnatilis Marsh sandpiper 小青足鷸 (小青足鹬) xiǎo qīng-zú yù 'small green/blue-legged snipe' (澤鷸) 泽鹬 zé yù 'marsh 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' Tringa nebularia Common greenshank Greenshank 青足鷸 (青足鹬) qīng-zú yù 'green/blue-legged snipe' (青腳鷸) 青脚鹬 qīng-jiǎo yú 'green/blue-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' Tringa guttifer Nordmann's greenshank Spotted greenshank 諾氏鷸 (诺氏鹬) nuò-shì yù 'Mr Nuo's snipe' (小青腳鷸) 小青脚鹬 xiǎo qīng-jiǎo yù 'small green/blue-legged 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 (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Tringa flavipes Lesser yellowlegs Lesser yellowleg 小黃腳鷸 (小黄脚鹬) xiǎo huáng-jiǎo yù 'small yellow-legged snipe' (小黄腳鷸) 小黄脚鹬 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 白腰草鷸 (白腰草鹬) bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass snipe' (白腰草鷸) 白腰草鹬 bái-yāo cǎo yù 'white-rumped grass snipe' 白尾梢 (白尾梢) bái-wěi shào 'white-tailed shao' 水鷙 (水鸷) 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' Tringa glareola Wood sandpiper 鷹斑鷸 (鹰斑鹬) yīng bān yù 'hawk-striped snipe' (林鷸) 林鹬 lín yù 'forest snipe' 水鷙 (水鸷) 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' Xenus                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Xenus cinereus Tringa cinerea Tringa cinereus Terek sandpiper 反嘴鷸 (反嘴鹬) fǎn-zuǐ yù 'recurved-billed snipe' (cf avocet) (翹嘴鷸) 翘嘴鹬 qiáo-zuǐ yù 'curved-billed snipe'   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' Actitis                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Actitis hypoleucos Tringa hypoleucos Common sandpiper 磯鷸 (矶鹬) jī yù 'rocky-shore-snipe' (磯鷸) 矶鹬 jī yù 'rocky-shore-snipe' 小水鷙 (小水鸷) xiǎo shuǐzhì 'small water zhi' イソシギ (磯鷸 ~ 磯鴫) iso-shigi 'rocky-shore-snipe'   깝작도요 kkapjakdoyo 'light-floating (?) snipe' Chim Choắt nhỏ 'small choat bird' Heteroscelus                 Latin English Chinese (Taiwan) Chinese (Mainland) Other Ch Japanese Other J Korean Vietnamese Heteroscelus brevipes Tringa brevipes Grey-tailed tattler Asian tattler Grey-rumped sandpiper 黃足鷸 (黄足鹬) huáng-zú yù 'yellow-legged snipe' (灰尾漂鷸) 灰尾漂鹬 huī-wěi piāo-yù 'grey-tailed floating snipe' or (灰尾鷸) 灰尾鹬 huī-wěi yù 'grey-tailed snipe' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5)   キアシシギ (黄足鷸 ~ 黄足鴫) ki-ashi shigi 'yellow-legged snipe'   노랑발도요 norang-bal-doyo 'yellow-footed snipe' Chim Choắt lùn đuôi xám 'grey-tailed dwarf choat bird' Heteroscelus incanus Tringa incana Heteroscelus incana Wandering tattler American tattler 美洲黃足鷸 (美洲黄鹬) měizhōu huáng-zú yù 'American yellow-legged snipe' (漂鷸) 漂鹬 piāo-yù 'floating snipe' or (灰鷸) 灰鹬 huī yù 'grey snipe' (Alternative in 1)   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'

Floating Menu by Milonic

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Tool tips by Walter Zorn

Scolopacidae 2