Woodcock | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Woodcock

Woodcock is a name given to 6 species of shorebirds of the sandpiper family (Scolopacidae).
Woodcock, American
The nest of the American woodcock is a sparingly leaf-lined depression on the ground (Corel Professional Photos).
Woodcock Distribution

Woodcock is a name given to 6 species of shorebirds of the sandpiper family (Scolopacidae).

Range and Habitat

Woodcocks occur in open woodlands with damp soil. American woodcock (Scolopax minor), the only species in Canada, breed in eastern North America from southern Canada (southeastern Manitoba and southwestern Newfoundland) to southern Texas, and winter in the southern US.

Description

The woodcocks' characteristic long, straight bills are very flexible at the tip and can be opened below the soil surface to grasp prey (earthworms). The skull is much modified to accommodate the large eyes; hence, the ear openings are located under instead of behind the eyes as in other birds.

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