Eurasian Woodcock
by
Shop
Scolopax rusticola
Scarce residents of 78,000 breeding pairs in woodlands and forests of Britain & declining.
Also breeds in Europe.
Winters in North Africa.
Adults have cryptic camouflage to suit its woodland habitat, with intricately patterned reddish-brown upperparts and buff underparts.
The head is barred with black, not striped like that of its close relatives, the snipe.
It has large eyes located high on the sides of its head, giving it 360-degree monocular vision.
The wings are rounded and the base of the bill is flesh-coloured with a dark tip.
The flight is somewhat owl- or bat-like.
The Males performs a courtship display flight called 'roding' at dusk between April and June.