Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra

Classification

Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form in Western Eurasia and M. n. americana in North America and Eastern Asia. These sometimes treated as separate species.

Distribution

Holarctic, breeding at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and in northeastern and northwestern North America. The wintering range extends south to northwest Africa, Eastern Asia and the southern USA. Only the subspecies americana occur in Eastern Eurasia. It breeds east of the Lena Delta (125°E) in the Russian Arctic, and winters in the coastal areas of the Far East and Eastern Asia.

Movements

Migratory, wintering in the coastal areas of Sea of Japan and Pacific along Kamchatka in Russia south to Japan.

Population limits

Only one population is recognised in Eastern Eurasia.

Population size

• Eastern Asia: 100,000-1,000,000 (Gerasimov & Gerasimov 1997c). Provisional numerical criterion 5,000.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 100,000-1,000,000, following Gerasimov & Gerasimov (1997c).

Network of key sites

No key site was identified from the data obtained.

Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca

Classification

Polytypic. Three subspecies are generally recognised: the nominate form in Western Eurasia, M. f. stejnegeri in Eastern Asia, and M. f. deglandi in North America. Some authors give full specific status to stejnegeri and deglandi under the name deglandi.

Distribution

Holarctic, breeding across northern Eurasia and North America, with an isolated mainly sedentary population in Southwestern Asia. The wintering range extends south to western Europe, Eastern Asia and southern USA. Only the subspecies stejnegeri occurs in Eastern Eurasia, breeding in Siberia east of Yenisey River (85°E) across to Russian Far East, and wintering in the coastal area in the Far East and Eastern Asia.

Movements

Migratory, wintering in the coastal areas of the Japan, Yellow, East and South China seas, and the Pacific along Kamchatka in Russia south to Japan.

Population limits

Only one population is recognised in Eastern Eurasia, viz. the entire population of the subspecies.

Population size

• Central / Eastern Asia: 600,000-1,000,000 (Callaghan in prep). Provisional numerical criterion 8,000.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 100,000-1,000,000 following Gerasimov & Gerasimov (1995a). Callaghan (in prep.) estimated 600,000-1,000,000, based on interpretation of available information and Gerasimov & Gerasimov (1995a).

Table of key sites

Site	Coordinates	Season	Population/ Count	Period/Date	Importance code	Ref
Russia
Pil'tun Bay	N5310E14322	Summering	40000	1990summer	11	Poyarkov & Rozanov 1998

Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Classification

Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form from Eurasia, and B. c. americana from North America, although the differences are slight and the validity of americana has been questioned.

Distribution

Holarctic, with a wide breeding distribution across northern Eurasia and North America. The wintering range extends south to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, East Asia and the southern USA. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Eastern Eurasia, breeding across Siberia to Russian Far East, Mongolia and northeast China, and wintering in the Far East and Eastern Asia. Small numbers occur regularly in Southern Asia (up to about 25°N).

Movements

Migratory, wintering mainly at sea in the northern parts of its winter range but also on large rivers, lakes, reservoirs and coastal lagoons in southern parts. In Eastern Eurasia, winters largely in eastern China, Korea, Japan and the coast of Kamchatka in Russia.

Population limits

Only one population is recognised in Eastern Eurasia.

Population size

• Eastern Asia (wintering): 50,000-100,000. Provisional numerical criterion 750.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 10,000-100,000, following Perennou et al. (1994). The most up-to-date population estimates or counts in the wintering range are: 20,000 in China (Lu 1995); 3,000 in the Republic of Korea (Park, J-Y. pers. comm. 1999); and 3,000 in Japan (average of 1992/93 - 1996/97 winters, WPD-EAJ 1997). There is no reliable estimate of the population wintering in the coast of Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific coast in Russian Far East. Breeding population in Kamchatka is estimated at 30,000 (Gerasimov 1995). Based on the information available, a revised total population of 50,000-100,000 is proposed.

Table of key sites

Site	Coordinates	Season	Population/ Count	Period/Date	Importance code	Ref
Russia
Shantar Islands	N5430E13730	Summering	1000	1991-1992	11	Roslyakov & Roslyakov 1996
Selenga Delta in Lake Baikal	N5217E10622	Staging	8600	1989-1996autumn	11	Fefelov et al. 1998
Mongolia
Holboo Nuur	N4908E09708	Summering	1200	1977summer	11	Kitson 1978
Japan
Notsuke Bay	N4335E14518	Staging	2360	1985-92	11	Abe et al. 1995
Lake Furen-ko	N4315E14514	Staging	1517	1986-92	11	Abe et al. 1995
China
Xingkai Hu	N4515E13230	Wintering	11000	-	11	Scott 1989
Qing Dao	N3610E12010	Wintering	500	1990/91winter	11	AWC
Heigangkuo (Yellow River Delta)	N3408E11404	Wintering	720	1993/94winter	11	AWC
Yancheng Shore	N3330E12015	Wintering	556	1989/90winter	11	AWC

Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Smew Mergellus albellus

Classification

Monotypic.

Distribution

Palearctic, with a wide breeding distribution across northern Eurasia from Norway to Kamchatka. The wintering range normally extends south to the North, Black and Caspian Seas, and China. In Eastern Eurasia, breeding in Siberia across to Russian Far East, and wintering in Eastern Asia.

Movements

Migratory, wintering in China, Korea and Japan.

Population limits

Only one population is recognised in Eastern Eurasia.

Population size

• Eastern Asia (wintering): 25,000-100,000. Provisional numerical criterion 500.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 10,000-100,000, following Perennou et al. (1994). The most up-to-date population estimates or counts in the wintering range are: 20,000 in China (Lu 1995); 1,000 in the Republic of Korea (Park, J-Y. pers. comm. 1999); and 1,900 in Japan (average of 1992/93 - 1996/97 winters, WPD-EAJ 1997). There is no reliable estimate of the population wintering in the coast of Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific coast in Russian Far East. Based on the information available, a revised total population of 25,000-100,000 is proposed.

Table of key sites

Site	Coordinates	Season	Population/ Count	Period/Date	Importance code	Ref
Russia
Selenga Delta in Lake Baikal	N5217E10622	Staging	3000	1989-1996autumn	11	Fefelov et al. 1998
Lake Bolon	N4948E13630	Spring	10000	1970s	11	Bocharnikov & Shibaev 1996
Korea, Republic of
Han River Estuary	N3744E12640	Wintering	454	1994/95winter	11	AWC
Chonsu Lake	N3640E12625	Wintering	743	1991/92winter	11	AWC
China
Beidagang	N3840E11730	Wintering	1150	1990/91winter	11	AWC
Linhonghe Kou (Lianyungang Coast)	N3430E11920	Wintering	970	1991/92winter	11	AWC
Guandong Salt Works	N3423E12008	Wintering	1622	1994/95winter	11	AWC
Sheyang Salt Works	N3341E12032	Wintering	1572	1991/92winter	5	AWC
Yancheng Shore	N3330E12015	Wintering	1110	1992/93winter	11	AWC
Yancheng Nature Reserve	N3329E12040	Wintering	1572	1995/96winter	11	AWC

Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

Classification

Polytypic. Two subspecies have been described: the nominate form is circumpolar except for west Greenland, where the form M. s. schioleri occurs (the validity of this form has been questioned).

Distribution

Holarctic, with a wide breeding range across northern Eurasia and North America. The wintering range extends south to the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, Eastern Asia and Mexico. Only the nominate form occurs in Eastern Eurasia, breeding in Siberia and the Far East, and wintering in Eastern Asia.

Movements

Partially migratory; population in Eastern Eurasia are migratory, wintering in China, Korea and Japan.

Population limits

Only one population is recognised in Eastern Eurasia.

Population size

• Eastern Asia (wintering): 25,000-100,000. Provisional numerical criterion 500.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 25,000-100,000, following Gerasimov & Gerasimov (1995a). The most up-to-date population estimates or counts in the wintering range are: 10,000 in China (Lu 1995); and 4,000 in Japan (average of 1992/93 - 1996/97 winters, WPD-EAJ 1997). The wintering population in Korea has been unknown but was said to be abundant (Won, P.O. & Han, S.H. pers. comm. 1995). The population passing through Kamchatka during spring migration is estimated as 25,000-35,000 (Gerasimov & Gerasimov 1995a). Based on the information available, a total population of 25,000-100,000 is proposed.

Table of key sites

Site	Coordinates	Season	Population/ Count	Period/Date	Importance code	Ref
Korea, Republic of
Nakdong Estuary	N3508E12855	Wintering	573	1990/91winter	11	AWC

Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus

Classification

Monotypic. Vulnerable (IUCN 1996) / Endangered ( Green 1996).

Distribution

Confined to Eastern Asia, breeding in southern Russian Far East, northeastern China and Korea, and wintering south to northern Southeastern Asia.

Movements

Partially migratory; merely moving to lower reaches of the rivers in the breeding area in winter, with some dispersing more widely to central and southern China, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand, occasionally Japan.

Population limits

Only one population is recognised, viz. the entire population of the species.

Population size

• l Entire population: Eastern Asia: 2,000-4,000 (Callaghan in prep). 1% level 30.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 3,600-4,500 following Zhao et al. (1994a). Callaghan (in prep.) estimated 2,000-4,000 based on interpretation of available information and reports in Hughes & Hunter (1994).

Table of key sites [globally threatened taxa including sites supporting 'appreciable assemblage']

Site	Coordinates	Season	Population/ Count	Period/Date	Importance code	Ref
Russia
Bikin River Basin	N4638E13613	Breeding	350	late 1980s	11	Bocharnikov & Shibnyev 1994
Iman River Basin	N4600E13400	Breeding	300	1989-1991	11	Surmach & Zaykin 1994
Central Sikhote-Alin Mountains	N4500E13700	Breeding	68	1957-1990	11	Yelsukov 1994
China
Changbaishan Nature Reserve	N4200E12810	Breeding	100	1989-1991	11	Zhao et al. 1994b
Jiangsu Coast	N3400E12030	Wintering	12	1990/91winter	11	AWC
Yancheng Nature Reserve	N3329E12040	Wintering	18	1995/96winter	11	AWC
Gaoyou And Shabo Lakes	N3235E11920	Wintering	17	1989/90winter	11	AWC
Chanjiang River		Wintering	16	1990/91winter	11	AWC

Atlas of Key Sites for Anatidae in the East Asian Flyway

Goosander Mergus merganser

Classification

Polytypic. Three subspecies are recognised: the nominate form in northern Eurasia; M. m. orientalis in Central Asia from northeast Afghanistan to western China; and M. m. americanus in North America. The form comatus, listed by some authors for Central Asia, is now considered to be synonymous with orientalis.

Distribution

Holarctic, with a wide breeding range across Eurasia and North America in forested tundra between 50°N and the Arctic Circle. The wintering range extends south to southern Europe, the Middle East, northern India, eastern China and the southern USA. Two subspecies occur in Eastern Eurasia: the nominate form breeding in Siberia across to the Russian Far East, Mongolia and northern China; and M. m. orientalis breeding at high altitudes in the mountains of Central Asia from northeastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and India to across Xizang in China. Both winter in Southern and Eastern Asia, south to about 20°N.

Movements

Partially migratory; northern breeders winter at lower latitudes; and southern breeders mainly sedentary. In Eastern Eurasia, two breeding populations of different subspecies seem to greatly overlap in the wintering range in Pakistan, northern India, the Himalayas, China, Korea and Japan, but this is still to be confirmed.

Population limits

The wintering area of two subspecies, the nominate form and orientalis, considerably overlaps, and no precise data of population size of each subspecies has been obtained in the wintering area. Perennou et al. (1994) recognised two wintering groups in Eastern Eurasia: (1) Southern Asia; and (2) Eastern Asia. This was followed by Rose & Scott (1997) with the name of subspecies comatus and orientalis, respectively. These two wintering groups are retained for the practical reasons.

Population size

• Mergus merganser merganser / orientalis: Southern Asia (wintering): 2,500-10,000 (Callaghan & Green 1993). 1% level 60.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 2,500-10,000, following Callaghan & Green (1993).
• Mergus merganser merganser / orientalis: Eastern Asia (wintering): 50,000-100,000. Provisional numerical criterion 750.
  Rose & Scott (1997) estimated 25,000-100,000, following Perennou et al. (1994). The most up-to-date population estimates or counts in the wintering range are: 50,000 in China (Lu 1995); 15,000 in the Republic of Korea (Park, J-Y. pers. comm. 1999); and 5,000 in Japan (average of 1992/93 - 1996/97 winters, WPD-EAJ 1997). Based on the information available, a revised total population of 50,000-100,000 is proposed.

Table of key sites

Site	Coordinates	Season	Population/ Count	Period/Date	Importance code	Ref
Russia
Shantar Islands	N5430E13730	Summering	1000	1991-1992	11	Roslyakov & Roslyakov 1996
Korea, Republic of
Han gang Estuary	N3744E12641	Wintering	1331	1995-1996	11	Kim et al. 1996
Middle Han gang, Seoul	N3731E12658	Wintering	6744	1991-1996	1	Kim et al. 1996
China
Miyun Rese.	N4030E11700	Wintering	700	1991/92winter	11	AWC
Beidagang	N3840E11730	Wintering	900	1990/91winter	11	AWC
Linhonghe Kou (Lianyungang Coast)	N3430E11920	Wintering	1160	1991/92winter	11	AWC
Guandong Salt Works	N3423E12008	Wintering	2253	1990/91winter	5	AWC
Jiangsu Coast	N3400E11940	Wintering	1400	1990/91winter	11	AWC
Sheyang Salt Works	N3341E12032	Wintering	1380	1993/94winter	8	AWC
Yancheng Shore	N3330E12015	Wintering	4983	1992/93winter	11	AWC
Yancheng Nature Reserve	N3329E12040	Wintering	4909	1995/96winter	11	AWC
Dongsha Islands	N3325E12040	Wintering	3400	1994/95winter	11	AWC
Caohai Nature Reserve	N2650E10415	Wintering	2000	1990/91winter	11	AWC