Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is very poorly known, chiefly owing to its largely remote distribution in Patagonia. Its population size is precautionarily estimated to be small, below 10,000 mature individuals. Its population trend is not well known but is suspected to be declining because of the advancement of American Mink, and badly-planned wind farm projects, within its range. It is therefore listed as Near Threatened, but more precise estimates of its population size and trend are urgently needed.
Population justification
Not well known due to this species' cryptic habits and rarely visited range. Boyla and Estrada (2005) and Wetlands International (2012) both estimated a global population size of less than 10,000 individuals, and in a recent appraisal (Lesterhuis et al. in prep.) a similar conclusion was reached, with a suggestion of a population 2,500-5,000 individuals. To account for uncertainty, the population is estimated here at 2,500-9,999 mature individuals, but this may prove an underestimate given the species' vast range.
Trend justification
Trend poorly known, but precautionarily suspected to be declining. Much of its range is ostensibly remote from threats, but American Mink Neogale vison continue to advance their distribution, reaching even remote breeding areas such as Cape Horn (Barroso et al. 2024, ROC in litt. 2024). Moreover, the development of large wind farm projects across Patagonia (Norambuena et al. 2023) is also a plausible threat.
Breeding range comprises remote fjords and channels of Chile and Argentina in southern Patagonia, with strongholds in the Cape Horn archipelago. It has been reported from the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), but this is considered ambiguous and the historical documentation is a lost specimen of questionable identity (Bennett 1926, Woods and Woods 1997). Breeding records are principally south of the Golfo de Penas but extend up to at least 46°S, while in the non-breeding season there are records further north, up to approximately the province of Concepción (see Raimilla et al. 2023 for complete review).
It is found in grassy and forested boggy areas with low scrub or rushes, often in a mosaic of grassy bog, bamboo and lichen-clad dwarf forest and sometimes cushion-plant bogs up to 4,200 m (Parker et al. 1996, Piersma 1996). In the north of Tierra del Fuego, it also occurs in non-forested open grass and scrubby areas (Humphrey et al. 1970).
Much of this species' range is ostensibly remote from threats, but American Mink Neogale vison continue to advance their distribution, reaching even remote breeding areas such as Cape Horn (Barroso et al. 2024, ROC in litt. 2024). Moreover, the development of large wind farm projects across Patagonia (Norambuena et al. 2023) is also a plausible threat.
Conservation Actions Underway
Listed in CMS Appendix II.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Schlatter, R. & (Red De Observadores De Aves Y Vida Silvestre De Chile), R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Fuegian Snipe Gallinago stricklandii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/fuegian-snipe-gallinago-stricklandii on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.