A chunky long-billed shorebird that lives in forests. Famous spring "courtship dance" — males spiral down from sky in elaborate display.

Also called: Timberdoodle, Bog Sucker, Bog Snipe, Night Partridge

Native status: Native; declining

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 25–31 cm (10–12 in); wingspan 42–48 cm
Weight140–230 g (5–8 oz); females larger
LifespanWild typically 1–2 years; oldest documented 11
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae

§ Encyclopedia

The American woodcock, sometimes colloquially referred to as the timberdoodle, mudbat, becasse, bogsucker, brush snipe, night partridge, or Labrador twister is a small shorebird species found primarily in the eastern half of North America. Woodcocks spend most of their time on the ground in brushy, young-forest habitats, where the birds' brown, black, and gray plumage provides excellent camouflage.

Source: Wikipedia — American woodcock Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Chunky brown-and-russet shorebird with extraordinarily long bill, large eyes set high and far back on head (panoramic vision), short legs, no neck.

Similar species. Wilson's Snipe (similar shape, different habitat — wetlands not woods, lacks rusty tones). Common Snipe (Old World).

Voice. Nasal "peent" from ground; twittering wing-whistle in flight; "chickaree-chickaree" song during sky dance descent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Earthworms (~75% of diet), insect larvae, beetles, ants, snails — probed from soft soil with long flexible-tipped bill.

Behavior. Forest-dwelling shorebird with one of the most elaborate spring courtship displays of any US bird: at dusk, males perform "sky dance" — buzzy "peent" calls from forest clearings, then spiraling flight 50–100 m up while wings produce twittering sound, then descending in a zigzag fall while singing "chickaree." Often called the "timberdoodle." Population has declined ~1% per year for 50+ years due to young-forest loss.

§ Range

Eastern North America

§ Habitat

Young forests with damp soil

§ Threats

Young-forest loss, climate change, habitat fragmentation.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the american woodcock is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support young-forest management. Maintain woodland edges.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • American Woodcock Society
  • Wildlife Management Institute Young Forest Project
  • IUCN Red List 2018