# American Woodcock (*Scolopax minor*) The American Woodcock is a funny-looking bird with a long beak and big eyes. It loves to hide in the woods and can be tricky to spot, especially when it flies away with its zigzagging flight! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![American Woodcock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/American_woodcock_%2895252%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_woodcock_%2895252%29.jpg) ## Appearance The American Woodcock is a plump, medium-sized bird with a very long, straight bill and notably large, dark eyes set high on its head. Its mottled brown, black, and rufous plumage provides superb camouflage, making it blend seamlessly into leaf litter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Scolopax ## Interesting facts - Despite being plump, they can fly straight up like a rocket! - Nicknamed 'Timberdoodle,' they love woodlands and doodle for worms. - Their brain is almost upside-down, helping them see behind while probing! - Their high-set eyes allow them 360-degree vision without moving their head! ## Special abilities - **Worm Whisperer:** American Woodcock can probe soft soil with its sensitive bill to find and extract earthworms quickly. - **Night Vision Goggles:** American Woodcock has enormous eyes that allow it to see clearly in very dim light at dawn and dusk. - **Aerial Acrobat:** American Woodcock can perform a spectacular 'sky dance' flight display to attract mates above woodlands. - **Ground Disguise:** American Woodcock has cryptic plumage that helps them blend perfectly into leaf litter, avoiding predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 25-30 cm - **Wingspan:** 42-48 cm - **Weight:** 0.14-0.28 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-8 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 20-22 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding They mostly slurp up earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates from the soil. - **Primary Foods:** earthworms, insect larvae, grubs, beetles, snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — They probe soil to find and eat these rich, wiggly morsels. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Nocturnal owls hunt woodcocks, especially during migration. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons raid nests for eggs and chicks in their ground nests. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Fast, agile forest hawks hunt adult woodcocks. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a woodcock, watch quietly from a distance so you don't scare it away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Woodcock? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Woodcock? 25-30 cm ### What is American Woodcock's wingspan? 42-48 cm ### How much does American Woodcock weigh? 0.14-0.28 kg ### How long does American Woodcock live? 2-8 years ### How fast can American Woodcock move? 35 km/h ### What does American Woodcock eat? They mostly slurp up earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates from the soil. ### Where is American Woodcock usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Chelsea Parade Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chelsea-parade-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [East Plymouth Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-plymouth-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/macdougal-sullivan-gardens-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District [View all places to see American Woodcock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-woodcock) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [American Woodcock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-woodcock)