Woodcock

Scolopax minor

Written by Chris Coyle

This bird’s eyes are far back on the head to watch for danger as the head is often close to the ground while feeding. The species onetime abundance is smaller today due to overhunting in years past.

Scolopax minor 17713199 Reuven Martin, CC0

HABITAT:

Secretive and solitary bird found in brushy fields and moist temperate woodlands. The habitat varies with their activity, time of day, as well as the season. It breeds from southern Manitoba east to southern New Brunswick, south to the Gulf States and Florida.

NESTING:

Moist, well-drained soils such as stream bank thickets, rich bottom lands and other locations amply supplied with earthworms. They nest on the ground in a hollow lined with dead leaves. Their well-camouflaged eggs usually number four.

BEHAVIOR:

The Woodcock has a very notable mating performance involving song and flight which begins in the evening and continues until darkness. They feed in fields, pastures and on stream banks. Nesting females will feign a broken wing to draw predators away from the nest.

FOOD:

They feed at night or in the evenings. Earthworms are the preferred food. Also eaten are beetle larvae and insects. Occasionally, Woodcocks will consume leaves, seeds, and fruit.

PREDATORS:

Adults and chicks have many predators including hawks, owls, dogs, cats and opossums. Eggs are also subject to predation, and because of this, females rarely leave the nest.