Woodcock

Woodcock, common name for six species of a genus of birds of the sandpiper family. Four species occur on islands of eastern Asia and the East Indies and are little known. The other two, as popular game birds, have been extensively studied.

The American woodcock has short, stout legs and averages about 28 cm (about 11 in) in length. The head is relatively large, with a long, straight bill, the upper section of which can be flexed like a finger. The dark, prominent eyes are set far back on the head. The woodcock is mostly brown, mottled with black, gray, and russet.

Native to eastern North America, the woodcock lives in wooded bottomlands, where the soft, moist earth yields its favorite food, the earthworm. The bird remains hidden by day, protected by its coloration.

During the mating season, the male chooses a protected nesting site, usually near a meadow, where it performs a spectacular courtship ritual, either in the twilight or before dawn. At the start, the woodcock struts about with drooping wings and raised tail and utters low, whining sounds punctuated by a single, nasal note. Suddenly darting off, it spirals upward from 30 to 90 m (100 to 300 ft) with much twittering and then dives swiftly downward. A characteristic whistling note heard during the descent is believed to be caused by the rush of air through the three narrowed and stiffened outer primary feathers. The nest, made of dried leaves and grass, is built in a depression in the ground. The female lays four spotted eggs in a clutch.

The Eurasian woodcock is larger, about 34 cm (about 13.5 in) long, and is barred rather than plain on the underparts. It lacks the specialized primary feathers of the American species.

Scientific classification: Woodcocks make up the genus Scolopax of the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes. The American woodcock is classified as Scolopax minor and the Eurasian woodcock as Scolopax rusticola.