• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over three generations). The population size is unknown, but is not suspected to be sufficiently small to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The population size of this species is entirely unknown and even qualitative descriptions of its abundance are difficult to make. It was collected in Lore Lindu National Park in 1917 (Riley 1921) and there have been sporadic sightings here since (Mole and Wangko 2006, eBird 2022). Gerd Heinrich collected six specimens from the Mekongga Mountains in 1930-31 (White and Bruce 1986), but a recent search of this mountain range failed to find it (Berryman and Eaton 2020). It has also been collected in Minahasa, and here the species was recently photographed on a camera trap (Patandung et al. 2019).
Evaluating these observations, the species is reasonably assumed to be quite widespread across montane Sulawesi and the habitat used by the bird observed by Patandung et al. (2019) illustrates why the species is likely to have extremely low detectability, especially with the call and display being wholly unknown. With c.35,000 km² of montane forest within its elevational range (per Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein), the population is unlikely to be small.

Trend justification
The population is suspected to be declining due to a number of possible threats. Although forest loss was previously thought to be impacting the species (see BirdLife International 2001), recent remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) indicate that this has been minimal, equivalent to <0.5% in the three generations (13.1 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022. However, it may still be having a local impact. Patandung et al. (2019) noted that the Duasudara Nature Reserve block, whence they recorded the species, had been significantly impacted by fire in 1998 and 2015 and the species' apparent predilection for dense closed-canopy forest suggests it is likely to be impacted by even minor habitat alterations. Similarly, Patandung et al. also consider hunting (with snares) a risk, as well as feral domestic cats which were common at their study site and also mentioned by BirdLife International (2001; see account for Geomalia Zoothera heinrichi). All of these threats, however, are unlikely to be affecting more than a small fraction of the species' range. Consequently, although the rate of population decline is not quantified here, it is suspected to be slow.

Scolopax celebensis is restricted to Sulawesi, Indonesia, where it is known from very few localities (BirdLife International 2001). It is possibly fairly common and overlooked in appropriate habitat.

It inhabits montane forest and bamboo thickets at 1,700-2,300 m, possibly down to 1,100 m. Patandung et al. (2019) recorded the species at 1,100 m in an area of trees with patches of a dense scrubby understorey. They noted the vegetation as being dominated by Columnea sp., Pandanus sp. and Etlingera sp.

Although forest loss was previously thought to be impacting the species, recent remote sensing data (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein) indicate that this has been minimal, equivalent to <0.5% in the three generations to 2022. However, it may still being having a local impact. Patandung et al. (2019) noted that the Duasudara Nature Reserve block, whence they recorded the species, had been significantly impacted by fire in 1998 and 2015 and the species' apparent predilection for dense closed-canopy forest suggests it is likely to be impacted by even minor habitat alterations. Similarly, Patandung et al. (2019) also consider hunting (with snares, for Gallus gallus) a risk, as well as feral domestic cats (Felis catus) which were common at their study site. As a species of montane habitats, it is potentially impacted by the effects of projected climate change.

Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in a number of protected areas and other parts of its range are secure by virtue of remoteness.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys to estimate the size of the population and the extent of its distribution. Investigate its tolerance of degraded forest and the extent of predation by feral cats. Protect large areas of unlogged montane forest in areas where it occurs.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Mahood, S. & Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sulawesi-woodcock-scolopax-celebensis on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.