Scolopax minor

Description

The American woodcock has a peach front and a white throat. It has a long bill and legs that are short for a wading bird. It has a brown back that is heavily marked so that it can blend in to the leaves on the ground (in other words it is camouflaged). The top of its head is dark with white stripes from eye to eye. The woodcock's forehead is a light gray color and it has a white tail tip.

Voice

The call of the American woodcock is a nasal "beezp" or "beent."

Breeding

March to July

Habitat

These wading birds like damp areas like wet woods and thickets. They also like swamps with ground cover (bushes).

Diet

The American woodcock eats mostly earthworms. They also eat insects, leaves, seeds, and fruit.

Range

You can find these birds in the eastern United States and southern Canada. They summer in the north (including VT and NH), winter in the south, and stay year-round in the central area.

Other Useful Information

An American woodcock is more active at night, than it is during the day. It is a very secretive bird.

Similar Species

The common snipe looks like the American woodcock, but the snipe is less colorful and it is not as stocky.