{"id":1808,"date":"2013-03-05T12:14:56","date_gmt":"2013-03-05T16:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=1808"},"modified":"2015-03-26T15:31:26","modified_gmt":"2015-03-26T19:31:26","slug":"the-dance-of-the-woodcock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-dance-of-the-woodcock\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dance of the Woodcock"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"American<\/a>It’s an annual rite of passage.\u00a0As the snow melts away and the first traces of greenery return to the woods of New England, our breeding birds begin the courtship process. And no bird is more of an exhibitionist then the American woodcock.<\/p>\n

Early March, these elusive birds\u00a0gather at the forest\u2019s edge to perform their famous \u201csky-dance.\u201d<\/p>\n

It goes something like this: First, male woodcocks utter a distinctive one-note peent<\/i> call with a buzzy, nasal quality. They then flutter high into the air and circle repeatedly, allowing the rushing air to rise in a winnowing whistle as it passes over their wings. To finish off, they\u00a0acrobatically\u00a0descend back to the very same spot they took off from and repeat the process in the hopes of attracting a female.<\/p>\n

About American Woodcocks<\/h3>\n

Also known as Timberdoodles (timber, for their woodland habitat, doodle because they look somewhat silly),\u00a0these plump, mottled forest birds might resemble grouse or quail at first glance. However, it’s their long bills that betray their true genetic identity as members of the sandpiper family,\u00a0Scolopacidae.<\/i>\u00a0These exceptional bills allow woodcocks to probe through soft mud in search of worms and other invertebrates to eat.<\/p>\n

It’s often difficult to spot woodcocks outside of their courtship display. Their plumage allows them to be very well camouflaged when hiding in the leaf litter, where they build their nests and incubate their eggs.<\/p>\n

The American woodcock can be found throughout Massachusetts, from the Berkshires to Nantucket. Yet, according the State of the Birds<\/a><\/strong><\/em> report, there may be trouble ahead for this beloved bird as more old field habitats they depend\u00a0for their singing grounds are disappearing.<\/p>\n

Seeing Them in Action<\/h3>\n

The courtship flights of the American woodcock are impressive, and, fortunately, easy to observe. Just as the biting cold of winter begins to abate in late February and early March, the first woodcocks return to the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

Although woodcocks nest in forested areas, they prefer to perform their courtship displays in more open habitat. For this reason, old pastures and the margins of wooded wetlands are some of the best places to look for singing woodcocks.\u00a0Courtship activity is most intense around sunset, so plan your woodcock excursions to arrive at the singing grounds before twilight.<\/p>\n

Need a little guidance? Join an upcoming woodcock program<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>And check out this great Living on Earth<\/a><\/strong> segment, where a Mass Audubon naturalist brings the mating ritual to the airwaves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s an annual rite of passage.\u00a0As the snow melts away and the first traces of greenery return to the woods of New England, our breeding birds begin the courtship process. And no bird is more of an exhibitionist then the American woodcock. Early March, these elusive birds\u00a0gather at the forest\u2019s edge to perform their famous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[28,114],"class_list":["post-1808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nature-notes","tag-birds","tag-woodcock"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-ta","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16766,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-woodcock-sky-dance\/","url_meta":{"origin":1808,"position":0},"title":"The Woodcock Sky Dance","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"March 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"While they have many names \u2013 Bogsucker, Labrador Twister, Timberdoodle \u2013 the American Woodcock is known for its marvelous sky dance. Every spring, wet meadows and fields transform into a \"runway\" for their beautiful aerial courtship display. Before you observe the love flight for yourself, catch up on some woodcock\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/3049Anna_Jarosinski11093-750x500-9cb703b0-0795-4aa3-8672-6675bff991b3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/3049Anna_Jarosinski11093-750x500-9cb703b0-0795-4aa3-8672-6675bff991b3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/3049Anna_Jarosinski11093-750x500-9cb703b0-0795-4aa3-8672-6675bff991b3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/3049Anna_Jarosinski11093-750x500-9cb703b0-0795-4aa3-8672-6675bff991b3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1668,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/love-is-for-the-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1808,"position":1},"title":"Love is for the Birds","author":"Hillary T.","date":"February 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s almost Valentine\u2019s Day and love is in the air. But how do we compare to our bird counterparts when it comes to courtship? Here are just a few of the more impressive romantics in Massachusetts. American Woodcock Come March and April, this reclusive forest dweller puts on quite a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Woodcock","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/02\/americanwoodcock-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10739,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/8-ways-to-watch-woodcocks\/","url_meta":{"origin":1808,"position":2},"title":"8\u00a0Ways\u00a0to Watch Woodcocks","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"March 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"American Woodcocks are back!\u00a0Even when spring arrives late,\u00a0woodcocks still\u00a0perform\u00a0their remarkable sky dances.\u00a0In\u00a0March and early April, these fascinating, awkward-looking\u00a0birds\u00a0put on a\u00a0mating display at dusk. The best part: it\u2019s\u00a0easy to view\u00a0this display in any large brushy field,\u00a0including some city parks. Keep an ear out for a\u00a0woodcock\u2019s\u00a0sharp, nasal\u00a0\u201cpeent!\u201d\u00a0from sunset to half an hour\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/WoodcockWilliamFreedberg600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/WoodcockWilliamFreedberg600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/WoodcockWilliamFreedberg600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3374,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/can-these-animals-fool-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":1808,"position":3},"title":"Can These Animals Fool You?","author":"Rosemary","date":"March 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many animals have particular patterns and colors that help them avoid predators. Some blend into the background or mimic an object like a leaf or twig, and some try to direct a predator\u2019s attention to a less vulnerable body part. Test your visual skills with these tricky creatures. American Woodcock\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/03\/fools_woodcock_credit_TomZack_ZackStock-Imaging.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/03\/fools_woodcock_credit_TomZack_ZackStock-Imaging.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/03\/fools_woodcock_credit_TomZack_ZackStock-Imaging.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8768,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-signs-of-spring\/","url_meta":{"origin":1808,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Signs of Spring","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The recent weather in Massachusetts may have lots of us feeling like we're on a wild rollercoaster ride, but don't despair\u2014spring is coming! The sights, smells (looking at you, Skunk Cabbage), and sounds of spring\u2014from the sweet\u00a0fee-bee call of the late-winter chickadee to the spring peeper's chorus of chirps\u2014are popping\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bloodroot \u00a9 Maili Waters, 2016 Photo Contest Winner","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/4100Maili_Waters17500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/4100Maili_Waters17500.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/4100Maili_Waters17500.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16799,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/come-one-come-all-bird-a-thon-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":1808,"position":5},"title":"Come One, Come All: Bird-a-thon 2022","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"April 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Every May, around a thousand of people participate in Bird-a-thon. Last year, 13 teams recorded a combined total of 274 bird species in 24 hours, while raising over $310,000 to support Mass Audubon's wildlife sanctuaries, conservation efforts, and education programs across the state.\u00a0 Finding 274 different species of birds is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/04\/IMG_9357-750x500-027ddf84-6ccc-43c0-9ded-50ad75ee1d83.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/04\/IMG_9357-750x500-027ddf84-6ccc-43c0-9ded-50ad75ee1d83.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/04\/IMG_9357-750x500-027ddf84-6ccc-43c0-9ded-50ad75ee1d83.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/04\/IMG_9357-750x500-027ddf84-6ccc-43c0-9ded-50ad75ee1d83.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1808"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5114,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1808\/revisions\/5114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}