A fairly large, dumpy, short-legged wader, the woodcock lives in woodlands and on heathlands where its mottled plumage provides it with excellent camouflage as it probes around the ground for earthworms and beetles to eat. Spending most of its life in dense cover, UK birds are mostly residents but are joined by wintering birds from Finland and Russia. If you happen to disturb one, it will fly off in a zig-zag pattern between the trees before dropping back to the ground and the safe cover of the undergrowth.
How to identify:
Only likely to be confused with the smaller snipe which is a bird of wet grassland and marshes, not woodland. The woodcock is brown with an intricate pattern of black and grey barring and broad, dark bars across the crown. It has short, greyish-pink legs and a very long, straight bill.
Where to find it:
Widespread, a fairly common but shy breeding bird of deciduous woodlands.
How people can help:
Breeding populations of woodcock have declined in recent years due to habitat loss. Local Wildlife Trusts across the country are looking after woodland and heathland habitats for the benefit of all kinds of species. And you can help too: volunteer for The Wildlife Trusts and you could be involved in everything from monitoring populations to clearing scrub and coppicing, raising awareness to protecting nesting birds.
Statistics:
Length: 33-35cm Wingspan: 58cm Weight: 280g Average Lifespan: 4 years
Conservation status:
Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review.
Did you know?:
Woodcock have very large eyes positioned on the side of their heads, giving them 360 degree vision. Their pin feathers were highly prized by artists as fine brush tips for use on exquisite works and were also used to move fine particles, such as dust in people's eye.
