Report of internal and external parasites of the Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) in north of Iran

Woodcocks are considered as a group of eight living species of Wading birds in the Scolopax genus which often migrate individually, choosing mixed or deciduous forests for their Habitation and are also One of the birds with parasitic infections. In this research, a total of 18 Eurasian woodcocks (S. rusticola) (11 males and 7 females), recorded from unauthorized hunters by Mazandaran environmental agents, were examined in order to study their external and internal parasites which showed 100% of total parasitic infection in the results. Many species of external and internal parasites were found including two species of cestoda (Hymenolepis spp. and Davinia proglotina), one species of Termatoda (Echinoparyphium), one species of mite (Megninia cubitalis) and two species of lice (Philopterus and Lipeurus). In addition, M. cubitalis with the infection rate of 72.22%, was the most prevalent parasite. Comparison of The findings in this research with other studies show that Eurasian woodcock have an important role in the transmission of parasites due to the importance of their migration and further researches seem required on this bird and other migratory birds in iran. This study is also the first report of the parasites in Eurasian woodcock in Iran.