1 American Woodcock Photo courtesy of USFW Service Introduction The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a migratory game bird that is popular with both hunters and bird watchers. The birds range is roughly the eastern ½ of the United States. Widely sought by gentlemen hunters in the northeast over a century ago, it was almost unknown to Indiana’s hunters as late as 1960. Its popularity as an Indiana game bird increased significantly in the 70’s and early 80’s and then plunged downward as the bird’s numbers declined. Many folks associate the annual arrival of woodcock with spring and anticipate observing the males performing their nightly “sky dance”. General Characteristics The American woodcock is a member of the shorebird family which includes the sandpiper and common snipe. Unlike its shorebird relatives, woodcock inhabit woodlands during the daytime. Both males and females have similar plumage of mottled browns and blacks that blend the bird into the dead leaves of the forest floor. Ancient lore suggested that the Great Maker, when done creating all other birds, used the leftover parts to fashion the woodcock. The most distinctive features of this rather peculiar bird are its large bill and bulging eyes. The eyes sit so far back on the side of its head that a woodcock can see a full 360 degrees. This sight adaptation enables the bird to detect predators even while feeding. The bill is 60-75 mm in length (approx. 2½ -3”). Females can WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT FACT SHEET
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American Woodcock - Indiana · The American woodcock is a member of the shorebird family which includes the sandpiper and common snipe. Unlike its shorebird relatives, woodcock inhabit
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Transcript
1
American
Woodcock
Photo courtesy of USFW Service
Introduction The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a migratory game bird that is popular with both
hunters and bird watchers. The birds range is roughly the eastern ½ of the United States.
Widely sought by gentlemen hunters in the northeast over a century ago, it was almost
unknown to Indiana’s hunters as late as 1960. Its popularity as an Indiana game bird
increased significantly in the 70’s and early 80’s and then plunged downward as the bird’s
numbers declined. Many folks associate the annual arrival of woodcock with spring and
anticipate observing the males performing their nightly “sky dance”.
General Characteristics The American woodcock is a member of the shorebird family which includes the sandpiper
and common snipe. Unlike its shorebird relatives, woodcock inhabit woodlands during the
daytime. Both males and females have similar plumage of mottled browns and blacks that
blend the bird into the dead leaves of the forest floor.
Ancient lore suggested that the Great Maker, when done creating all other birds, used the
leftover parts to fashion the woodcock. The most distinctive features of this rather peculiar
bird are its large bill and bulging eyes. The eyes sit so far back on the side of its head that a
woodcock can see a full 360 degrees. This sight adaptation enables the bird to detect
predators even while feeding. The bill is 60-75 mm in length (approx. 2½ -3”). Females can
WILDLIFE M
ANAG
EM
ENT FACT SH
EET
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be distinguished from males by their longer bills (usually > 68 mm). Layman can use a dollar bill to
sex a bird in hand – females will generally have a beak longer than the width of the dollar bill while
male’s snouts will not extend past the width of a paper bill. The pencil-like beak has nerves out to the
tip to help its owner locate prey below the surface. A woodcock can open its beak just at the tip
while probing deep in soft soil. These specializations of the bill enable the woodcock to grasp
earthworms, its favorite prey, and pull them from the soil.
Woodcock are quail-sized, standing about eight inches tall and appear to bob when they walk. The
bird has short, powerful wings which permit skillful flight in its diurnal thickets. Female woodcock
are slightly larger than males typically weighing in at a tad over 7 oz. vs. males averaging less than 6
oz. In flight it is difficult to distinguish sexes. Wildlife biologists can determine the age and sex of
woodcock by examining specific wing feathers.
A woodcock has many local names based primarily on its appearance and/or habits. Some of the
more colorful names are: bog borer, bog sucker, big eyes, swamp bat, mud bat, hokumpake,
Labrador twister, whistler, cock-of-the-woods, golden bombshell, marsh plover, big-eyed John,