Scolopax rusticola
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Mass
~310 g
Habitat
Forests
Diet
Omnivore
How to recognize it
The Eurasian Woodcock is a shy woodland wader that blends into leaf litter and keeps a calm, low-key presence. Its long bill and alert, back-set eyes fit a life spent close to the ground.
It is most active at dusk and night, when it walks slowly through soft soil and probes for food. In spring the male gives a quiet courtship flight from above the trees, with a soft grunting sound that ends in a sharp whistle.
It lives in dense wet deciduous or mixed woods, especially near damp ground and small pools. It feeds mainly on earthworms, along with insects, spiders, and a little plant food, and in most of its range it moves south for winter.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The Eurasian Woodcock is a shy woodland wader that blends into leaf litter and keeps a calm, low-key presence. Its long bill and alert, back-set eyes fit a life spent close to the ground.
It is most active at dusk and night, when it walks slowly through soft soil and probes for food. In spring the male gives a quiet courtship flight from above the trees, with a soft grunting sound that ends in a sharp whistle.
It lives in dense wet deciduous or mixed woods, especially near damp ground and small pools. It feeds mainly on earthworms, along with insects, spiders, and a little plant food, and in most of its range it moves south for winter.
