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American Woodcock

Scolopax minor
Scolopacidae
Audubon print misrepresents solitary nature of woodcocks
Not an easy bird to spot ...
... from any angle!
An early migrant: American Woodcock tracks in mid-March
An unusual huddle of 5 in Central Park after a spring blizzard
Does a to-and-fro Latin dance step as it moves to its own beat
Male produces a twitter with wing feathers for its sky-dance
Beak deep in soil but highly-placed eyes alert to all comers
Reflective layer in eye increases light for nocturnal foraging
A sizable and once popular game bird that was ...
... hunted with the help of dogs because ...
... its cryptic plumage blended so well into background.
...except when it shows up on 42nd street in NYC!
Egg also has cryptic pattern; usually 1-5 eggs in clutch
Brooding female hard to spot; head is away from lens
Shells left by newly hatched woodcock chicks
Female feeds cryptically marked hatchlings for a few days ...
... then chicks feeds independently
Chick and adult stay motionless until intruder leaves

The characteristic nasally "peeent" of the American Woodcock was documented for the first time at Salter Grove in mid-March 2023.  This call came from the marshy area at the northern end of the park and was heard near the boat launch.  It was likely a migrant passing through.  Despite the presence of seemingly suitable habitat in the northern and southern ends of the park it had not been observed since records began in 2002.

Like sandpipers, which belong to the same family Scolopacidae, the American Woodcock uses its long bill to probe for prey in soft substrate.  However, unlike its flocking shorebird relatives, it is solitary and frequents upland habitats such as wet thickets, moist woods or swampy fields.  Both its appearance and behavior have given rise to vernacular names such as Bogsucker, Hokumpoke, Labrador Twister, and Timberdoodle,

As it forages for food, it appears to be doing a Latin dance step to music only it can hear, stopping now and then to put its head to the ground.  Its bill is flexible at the tip and is sensitive to movement as it forages for soil organisms such as earthworms, insect larvae, snails, spiders, and other invertebrates.  The large eyes set far back on its head insure a wide field of vision for detecting predators as it inserts its bill deep into the ground.

From March to June, males claim openings in vegetation as dancing grounds.  These sites can be within forest, at roadsides, in pastures, or old fields.  At dawn and dusk, and even on moonlit nights, an impressive aerial dance is performed with calls and twittering wing tips to attract a mate.  During the day, both males and females rely on their cryptic plumage to stay hidden as they forage in a variety of vegetation. 

Since the female assume all reproductive responsibilities, from nest-building to caring for the precocial hatchlings, the unencumbered male mates with several females each breeding season.  The precocial chicks also have cryptic plumage and become motionless like the adults when they sense a predator.  They develop quickly and are able to search for food a few days after hatching. 

The American Woodcock breeds throughout eastern North America, from southeastern Canada south to Florida and Texas.  Early in the 20th century, migrating birds were reported to be quite abundant from late February to early April across southern New England--including the suburbs of Boston and nearby towns.  Northern populations may winter as far south as the Caribbean.  In areas where the soil does not freeze during the colder months, birds stay throughout the year.   

The American Woodcock continues to be common across its range and populations are moving northwards as coniferous forests are cleared and open habitats are created.  However, numbers have declined locally due to habitat loss whether from human activities or naturally maturing vegetation.  Another threat arises as its food supply is contaminated by harmful substances.  Pesticides that persist in the soil have become concentrated in earthworms and its other preferred food items.