Subantarctic Snipe - BirdForum Opus

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Coenocorypha aucklandica

Photo by Bri
Ssp. perseverance
Campbell Island, New Zealand

Distribution

New Zealand island groups: Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands, and Campbell Islands.

Taxonomy

Subspecies¹

• C. a. aucklandica - Auckland Islands (excluding main island)
• C. a. meinertzhagenae - Antipodes Islands
• C. a. perseverance - Campbell Islands

Considered conspecific with North Island Snipe by some authorities.

Behaviour

Subspecies perseverance survived on rat-free Jacquemart Island but spread under its own power to the main Campbell Island when rats were eradicated there.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view

1. BirdForum thread discussing the description of subspecies perseverance
2. Birdforum thread discussing a genetic analysis of the currently living members of this genus, supporting treating Snares Island Snipe as species

External Links

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