Linda’s For the Birds: The Strange Mating Ritual of the American Woodcock
American Woodcock.
Photos courtesy of Linda Gangi
by Linda Gangi
As the winter months drag on, most of the people in New Jersey, at this point, are weather weary. We have reasons to be optimistic though, after all Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and so too is the awe-inspiring mating ritual of one of the funkiest birds around, the American Woodcock, also called the Timberdoodle. If you have never witnessed this bird extravaganza start making plans now.
My first experience occurred at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Northern New Jersey off of Pleasant Plains Road by the Overlook. With the Fyke Nature Association, we gathered a bit before dusk and did some birding around the area while waiting for sunset. If you have never experienced a Woodcock mating ritual you might be a bit confused. I know I was. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what exactly we were waiting for. How was I going to see birds in this light?
As the sun set and darkness began to engulf us, it happened. That sound out in the field, the one that caused my fellow birders to get all excited, a high pitched nasal “peent”, which was the mating call of the American Woodcock, and then there was another in the opposite field and another. Just as I began to digest the sound, more excitement broke out. “There’s one!” they began to shout all pointing to the sky. My head snapped in the direction of the pointing hands, binoculars peering into the darkness, and there it was, a silhouette of a Woodcock spiraling upwards over our heads, wings furiously flapping and producing a distinctive twittering sound.
Hovering briefly, it careened downward into the opposite field, presumably within reach of its adoring female. This ritual was repeated over and over again as we ran from one end of the field to the other in pursuit of just one glimpse of these amorous birds. Although that was a great experience, one I highly recommend, I walked away knowing that I hadn’t really seen a Woodcock, only its silhouette.
My first experience occurred at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Northern New Jersey off of Pleasant Plains Road by the Overlook. With the Fyke Nature Association, we gathered a bit before dusk and did some birding around the area while waiting for sunset. If you have never experienced a Woodcock mating ritual you might be a bit confused. I know I was. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what exactly we were waiting for. How was I going to see birds in this light?
As the sun set and darkness began to engulf us, it happened. That sound out in the field, the one that caused my fellow birders to get all excited, a high pitched nasal “peent”, which was the mating call of the American Woodcock, and then there was another in the opposite field and another. Just as I began to digest the sound, more excitement broke out. “There’s one!” they began to shout all pointing to the sky. My head snapped in the direction of the pointing hands, binoculars peering into the darkness, and there it was, a silhouette of a Woodcock spiraling upwards over our heads, wings furiously flapping and producing a distinctive twittering sound.
Hovering briefly, it careened downward into the opposite field, presumably within reach of its adoring female. This ritual was repeated over and over again as we ran from one end of the field to the other in pursuit of just one glimpse of these amorous birds. Although that was a great experience, one I highly recommend, I walked away knowing that I hadn’t really seen a Woodcock, only its silhouette.
Woodcock probing.
I was lucky enough last year to finally find a Woodcock in broad daylight. The week after the 2010 Blizzard that left Cape May immobilized, I was at Cape May Point State Park. Snow still covered the ground but there was a patch or two of grass. Huddled on the grass were desperately hungry birds, one of which was a Woodcock. Driven by hunger, the bird was oblivious to our presence and appeared to be massaging the earth with its feet, while bobbing up and down oh so gracefully before it probed the soil with its flexible long bill in search of insects or earth worms. This year in Cape May I was lucky to see three or four Woodcock during the day, both along the side of the road and in the State Park.
Spring 2010 found me with members of Southern Ocean Birding Group, standing in a field in the Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area off of Stafford Avenue at dusk, and waiting for that all important sound. Woodcock newbies looked as confused as I did the first time. You could see that suspicious look, “what is it that we are waiting for?”, and then the sound, “peent”, and the pointing and the absolute feeling of awe one gets from experiencing nature. On that trip we were lucky enough to have a woodcock land close to us. We watched as each time he “peented” he changed his direction by ninety degrees, until he had gone full circle. As the trip lingered on, out in the field we could hear soft warbling songs that we couldn’t identify. Eventually we came to the conclusion that it was the consummation of adoring woodcocks and that quite possibly we shouldn’t be listening. I actually felt a little naughty.
Technically a shore bird, these unique birds nest on the forest floor and can be found in fields close to their habitat. Preferring transitional woodland, look for Birch, Alder and Aspen trees. When feeding they will be attracted to areas that afford the most earth worms. Very well camouflaged indeed, Woodcocks are also known for staying still when approached, making them even more difficult to spot. Their unique, rather large eyes are set further back on their head allowing them to be on the alert for predators while their beak is probing the ground.
If you would like to experience the woodcock mating ritual, many nature clubs have field trips to woodcock habitat beginning mid to late-March into early May. If you don’t find a trip, why not create one?
Here are some links to clubs and blogs throughout the state along with Woodcock info:
Spring 2010 found me with members of Southern Ocean Birding Group, standing in a field in the Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area off of Stafford Avenue at dusk, and waiting for that all important sound. Woodcock newbies looked as confused as I did the first time. You could see that suspicious look, “what is it that we are waiting for?”, and then the sound, “peent”, and the pointing and the absolute feeling of awe one gets from experiencing nature. On that trip we were lucky enough to have a woodcock land close to us. We watched as each time he “peented” he changed his direction by ninety degrees, until he had gone full circle. As the trip lingered on, out in the field we could hear soft warbling songs that we couldn’t identify. Eventually we came to the conclusion that it was the consummation of adoring woodcocks and that quite possibly we shouldn’t be listening. I actually felt a little naughty.
Technically a shore bird, these unique birds nest on the forest floor and can be found in fields close to their habitat. Preferring transitional woodland, look for Birch, Alder and Aspen trees. When feeding they will be attracted to areas that afford the most earth worms. Very well camouflaged indeed, Woodcocks are also known for staying still when approached, making them even more difficult to spot. Their unique, rather large eyes are set further back on their head allowing them to be on the alert for predators while their beak is probing the ground.
If you would like to experience the woodcock mating ritual, many nature clubs have field trips to woodcock habitat beginning mid to late-March into early May. If you don’t find a trip, why not create one?
Here are some links to clubs and blogs throughout the state along with Woodcock info:
Previous birding exclusives:
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Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 2/9/2011 2:00 PM 
Categories: Linda's For the Birds
Tags: american woodcock birds timberdoodle birding mating Cape May
Categories: Linda's For the Birds
Tags: american woodcock birds timberdoodle birding mating Cape May
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