Scientific name: Scolopax rusticola Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Waders
Field characters. 34 cm. 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.
Habitat. A variety of moist woodlands with plenty of undergrowth.
Food. Mainly earthworms, but also larvae of insects and occasionally plant material.