As Scott explains, The funny-looking and reclusive American Woodcock puts on one of the most spectacular displays of the spring.
An American Woodcock on its nest. (Courtesy USFWS/Baetsen)
Native Americans believed that the Great Spirit, after creating the other animals, used leftover parts to assemble the American woodcock. And it’s no wonder, for the woodcock is a mighty funny looking bird. They’re chunky, with very long bills, squat legs, and bulging eyes set far back on top of their heads. The location of the eyes allows 360 degree vision and helps the bird watch for predators, even while it’s eating.
They forage in clearings and in brushy hardwood thickets, probing for worms with their long bills. Unlike most other birds, they can open their beaks just at the tip while probing deep in soft soil so they can grasp earthworms and pull them out.
Because they are so superbly camouflaged and come out at dusk to feed, woodcocks are rarely seen. But in spring, they put on one of the most spectacular air shows in nature. At twilight, a male calls from the ground, making a buzzing noise. Then he launches into the air and flies skyward in an expanding spiral, wings whistling. He reaches a height of around three hundred feet then dives back toward earth in a zigzag, singing his twittering love song on the way. When he reaches the ground, he calls again.
So, why do the males put on such a daring show? To pick up chicks, of course! If you have never seen a woodcock’s courtship flight, join a bird watching group and enjoy the show!
