Hidden Secrets of the American Woodcock – This Bird is WEIRD!

The America Woodcock is an odd but incredible bird, known for their sky dance and "Peent" or "Meep" vocalizations. Learn all about them in this video, including some things you may not have known before!

Special thanks to our members Liz McQuaid, Sarah Coffey, Barbara Cole, Chris Slagle, Sally, and Sarah!

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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps

Background of cover image by Ivan Kornev (Public Domain, edited)
Woodcock in cover image by Fyn Kynd (CC by 2.0, edited)

Woodcock foraging video by John Flannery (CC by 2.0)
Bobbing video by USFWS (Public Domain)
Woodcock Chicks by Michaell Hunter (CC by 2.0)
Woodock eggs by Mike Budd (Public Domain)
Drawing by John L. Ridgway (1859-1947) and the Canadian illustrator, William B. Gillette (1864-1937) (CC by 4.0)
Hidden Woodcock photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren (CC by 2.0)
All other Woodcock photos by Matt Zuro (Used with permission)

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann

#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[JDYells]

The leading theory for the dance should be that they understand just how fly they are and want to show the world 😎

[TimothyB-lbek]

The Timberdoodle is one of my favorites for sure! Such on interesting bird with funny walks and its entire funny demeanor! Awesome video and happy birding!!

[whimbrella]

i love these lil guys! i suddenly have a bunch living around my house when i don’t remember them ever living right here before. every evening that i go out i hear their ‘peent’s and displays, and this evening i finally got one on my trail camera :D im hoping they’ll nest here

[roku]

The eye placement is a great adaptation for a small bird down in the grass. Also, now I know what I was hearing in the morning in Arkansas and Oklahoma while traveling in Spring.

[Shrock]

It's cool how this video came out the day after I went on a woodcock walk with my young birders club. It was amazing. We saw so many of them, they were doing their courtship dance, and they were very cooperative so I got good pictures.

[spood]

TIL that American Woodcocks are breeding residents in my region! I love these goofy little guys so much; hopefully I can see one in person in the future if I find out that any have been sighted near to me!

[cynthiamazzoli]

Hey there!
We have the “Timber-Doodles” here in Mountain Falls, VA. They were here last year 2024. What a wonderful experience it was. Hearing them for the first time and seeing them. Watched the male do his “flying routine” for his mate. Their “peep” sound, just one. And their “walking “
Is quite strange but they are so cute! I thank the Lord for creating birds like this!
Keep on birding!!

[woodsonjane]

I watched last year with a group of birders lead by a local nature center. It’s fun to watch.😊

[BaysingersDiscGolfChannel]

I've been wanting to see this bird since I first started keeping a birding list. In the past few weeks, I have heard them multiple times, but still haven't seen them 😕

[amyandsheilapennington-dro]

Honestly just came inside to learn about these when I heard them in my backyard here in NH! ID'd them with the Merlin app. 😁 So cool!

[johncremeans]

I've seen video of woodcox bobbing and vegetation and they look exactly like leaves in the wind. It's quite amazing.

[rickybrewer]

Great video! I would love to see more videos like this focused on information about a specific species!

[naturewithgabe]

Great video! I like the format and fun facts. I was out watching woodcocks the other night.

[Beryllahawk]

That strut is the BEST. And I'm so very glad to learn that a "snipe" is a real creature, a real bird, AND a bird that happens to actually live in my area, as well as the Woodcock. Though I'm sure those guys in my freshman class in college were trolling us all with a so-called "snipe hunt, " hahaha!
I still maintain that they sound like tree frogs though :D Cute lil guys!

[ChuckDarwin]

Ayo i just got the first of the year for my county the other day. Never will I tire of hearing that call!

[masha]

Wonderful video. Thank you for that! ❤

[NathanWebb-ch]

I used to see a woodcock in the dense woods during the day, and it flew from the ground. It was amazing to see.

[sophiareese]

1:02 . am i the only one enjoying the ambiance of what sounds like a typical mid western early fall or late winter/early spring day (early/late as in the season not time)

[michaelsimko]

I've never gotten to see or hear these birds here in CT. Many parts of the state that I'm familiar with don't have enough open land near forests and water and don't have large enough forests near open land and water. Plus, as a state that's 48th in square miles out of all 50 states, CT is very high on the HDI for such a small state and has a lot of development.
2 birds I rely on as a sign of spring are Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Once flocks begin to stop by and fly by as they make a lot of noise, that means spring is right around the corner and it's almost time to turn the clocks forward.
And outside of birds, you can't forget about the Spring Peepers. I just started hearing them on 3/16.

[billgrindler]

I've only seen a Woodcock once and was lucky to see it. It was after a blizzard, when I was out shovelling and a Woodcock fly out from a small wooded area next to my neighbor[s house towards me (above me not at the same height level). It then flew between our houses and I lost sight of it. My guess is it got caught in the winds of the blizzard and eventually came down near my home.