Scolopax rusticola - Eurasian Woodcock
Feather characters. Barbules can be extremely long (1.06-3.45 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and (partly) pigmented (more than 50%) internodes. Pigmentation often decreases distally. Slightly thickened nodes (14-20 per mm) are located on proximal end of barbules. Over a short distance these nodes may abruptly decrease in size, although in some cases they gradually decrease in size. Further along the barbule, nodal structures are too small to qualify as nodes. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum.
Field characters. Size 34 cm. Weight: male 306 g (250-410), female 313 g (205-420) (Dunning, 1993). A plump woodland bird, usually seen as a russet round-winged owl-like bird flying away between the trees. Difficult to see on the ground, because of its shyness, crepuscular habits and cryptic colouration. Upperparts rufous brown, marbled with dark spots and stripes. Underparts buffish with fine dense barring. Broad black bars on crown and neck, becoming smaller in neck. Face buff with a few dark lines. No contrastingly coloured wing bar or rump pattern. Legs rather short, but bill long, flesh-coloured, with a dark tip. Some individuals however have abnormally short bills. Large eyes set far back on head. Distinctive display flight in spring, when males fly above the tree tops at twilight and make low grunting and loud sneezing sounds. Woodcocks are among the least sociable waders and are almost always encountered in singles.
Voice. Usually silent, but during display flights males make a low grunting 'brrrr brrrr brrrr' and a loud, White Wagtail-like 'tsissick'.
Distribution. Never abundant, but common in suitable habitat. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. A variety of moist woodlands with plenty of undergrowth.
Food. Mainly earthworms, but also larvae of insects and occasionally plant material.