I’ve been birding since first grade and have seen a lot of things. But I’ve never seen American woodcock mating, until now.
I was out searching for American woodcocks in Milford last week, just for fun. Usually, the attraction is the courtship display that the male woodcock performs, but on this night, I noticed a pair demonstrating that it was successful.
Woodcocks are technically shorebirds, though you would never find one at the shore. They live along forest edges adjacent to fields and wet meadows in the northeastern United States, and winter in southeastern states.
Woodcocks have an exceptionally long, flexible and sensitive bill, which they use to probe in soil for invertebrates such as earthworms, which make up about 60 percent of their diet. Insect larvae buried in mud and a variety of insects and spiders are also on their menus.
Because woodcocks feed face down with their bills in the ground, they are vulnerable to predators from above and behind. Their eyes have evolved to be so far back on their heads that they can see behind themselves.
Woodcocks are surprisingly common in Maine, even though they are rarely seen because their heavy camouflage makes them practically invisible unless they move.
The long bill and bug-eyed appearance give them a comical look that has inspired many nicknames. Timberdoodle is most heard in Maine, but bogsucker and mudsnipe are popular elsewhere.
The courtship display is one of the most elaborate rituals in the animal kingdom. At dusk, males visit their selected spot and begin calling a loud “peent” that can be heard for hundreds of yards.
They repeat the call every few seconds for about a minute, then take to the air. As they ascend and circle in the sky, they gurgle a series of musical notes that change to chirps as they swoop back to their courtship spot.
While he’s been sky-dancing, perhaps a female has come in to check out her suitor. If so, romance may occur. She leaves, unlikely to return. She may even visit other suitors.
The female raises the chicks on her own. The males just keep on peenting, hoping to attract as many females as possible.
This ritual starts in late March and ends in early June. Although much of the mating takes place early in the season, males keep on performing.
Woodcocks nest on the ground, where they are vulnerable to predators and various disturbances. Nest failure is common, and females are likely to try again. Males keep up their sky dance until all hope is lost.
The young of all ground-nesting species are typically precocial, which means they are independent enough to move around and avoid trouble soon after leaving the egg.
Baby woodcocks move off the nest just hours after hatching and can feed themselves within a week. They can fly within two. Mom takes care of them for another month, and then they’re on their own.
Woodcocks have long been prized as game birds. They also have benefited from early conservation efforts.
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937, primarily to promote woodcock and waterfowl habitat. Much of its 27,000 acres in Washington County is still managed for woodcock. One trail near park headquarters is named the Timberdoodle Trail.
Just listen for “peents” on the ground around sunset. Listen for the gurgles and chirps in the air as the birds circle. While there’s still enough twilight, you can usually see them against the sky, flying about 300 feet up. They go silent just before landing, but you can hear the woosh of their wings.
