American Woodcock

The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a small, plump shorebird about the size of a robin. The woodcock or timber doodle as it is sometimes called, prefers to spend most of its time at ground level in young brushy forest habitats and old fields preferring damp to wet locations. The whitish brown plumage of the woodcock provides excellent camouflage in these brushy areas.

Woodcock have a very long bill that it uses to probe for earthworms its favorite food. Besides earthworms woodcock targets small insects, grubs, and other invertebrates such as snails. Woodcock have a very fast digestive system that enables them to consume nearly their entire bodyweight in a single day. The eyes of the woodcock are located on the side of the head which enables them to have almost circular peripheral vision. The long bill, eyes, serrated beak, and orientation of the brain in these birds appear to be adaptations for probing the ground for earthworms and other food.

The peak activity times of these birds in during the early morning hours and at dusk when they are in search of food. American Woodcock are typically found in the eastern part of North America extending from the Canadian Provinces down to the Gulf States. Those woodcock found in the northern part of the range will migrate south during the winter. Woodcock are year round residents throughout most of Maryland.

The male woodcock has an unusual courtship display. During courtship the male flies 200 – 300 feet in the air then spirals down to the ground attracting mates with this aerial display and an unusual courtship song. The woodcock has only one brood per year consisting of 3 – 4 chicks. Fortunately these chicks grow fast and are well camouflaged so that chick mortality is fairly low compared to other birds.