What is a woodcock?

A woodcock is a shorebird that decided to live in the woods. It’s cryptic, meaning hard to find. It’s a game species, and it’s also a declining species. It’s not yet on any official state, national, or international list of concern although many organizations and agencies have it listed.  It also likes to return to the same sites each year and has an amazing courtship display -- which I am counting on in order to find it and study it.

 

The American Woodcock is already established as a sentinel or bio-indicator for many other species. Often times, these other species which are far more difficult to detect such as the Eastern Hognose, Ruffed Grouse, Golden-winged Warbler, and New England Cottontail have similar habitat requirements. So, it's hopefully if American Woodcock can thrive in an area, so can all these other species!