Wonderful woodcock

What is it

The Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) is a chunky, medium-sized bird, around 33cm-35cm long. Its feathers are a beautiful mix of browns, oranges and blacks – perfect for blending into the leaf litter of the forest floor. One of its most striking features is its long, straight bill, which it uses to probe the ground for worms and insects.

Population

In total, about 55,000 woodcock breed in the UK each year, but when the winter migrants arrive, that number can soar to more than a million birds.

How to find

Woodcock love damp woodlands with plenty of undergrowth. They spend much of their time hidden among ferns and fallen leaves, only coming out at dawn or dusk. In the UK, they can be found in Scotland, Wales and parts of England, especially in remote forested areas.

What time of year

There are two types of woodcock you might find in the UK. Resident birds live here all year round but migratory woodcock arrive in winter from Scandinavia, Russia and Eastern Europe to escape the cold.

Breeding

Woodcock nesting season begins in March or April. The female lays three to four mottled eggs on the ground, hidden among leaves. Once the chicks hatch, they’re covered in fluffy down and can walk almost straight away.

If you’ve ever walked through a woodland at dusk, you might have been closer than you realised to one of the UK’s most mysterious birds – the woodcock. With its camouflaged feathers and secretive lifestyle, it is a master of disguise. Numbers in the UK are declining, mainly because of habitat loss. If you’re exploring forests, try to stick to paths and keep dogs close – you might protect a woodcock nest without knowing it.