Woodcock

This article is about the bird. For the town, see Woodcock, Pennsylvania.

Woodcock
American Woodcock
: Animalia  : Chordata  : Aves  : Charadriiformes Family†: Scolopacidae
Genera Scolopax
† see also: wader

The woodcock are a group of 7 very similar wading bird species, characterised by a long slender bill and cryptic brown and blackish plumage. Only two woodcocks are widespread, the others being localised island species.

These are woodland birds which feed at night or in the evenings, searching for invertebrates in soft ground with their long bills. This habit and their unobtrusive plumage makes it difficult to see them when they are resting in the day.

Most have distinctive displays, usually given at dawn or dusk. These are birds with stocky bodies and long bills. They have eyes set on the sides of their heads, which gives them almost 360^o vision.

Species are:

• Family: Scolopacidae (part)
  • Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
  • Amami Woodcock, Scolopax mira
  • Bukidnon Woodcock, Scolopax bukidnonensis
  • Dusky Woodcock, Scolopax saturata
  • Sulawesi Woodcock, Scolopax celebensis
  • Moluccan Woodcock, Scolopax rochussenii
  • American Woodcock, Scolopax minor