Migrating woodcocks put on a show worth watching
In early spring, while a chill is in the air, on a moonlit walk, you may occasion to hear an unusual, regularly repeated, nasal, PEENT sound.
For the past two springs we’ve heard this sound thinking it was a frog or insect. This year curiosity got to us.
It was dark, with a full moon, and there we were, Dani and I in our meadow, flashlights in hand following the repeated PEENT.
For about half an hour we observed the continuous aerial dance characteristic of the male woodcock during courting and through incubation. This ritual begins with the nasal PEENT, followed by his rising into the air and flying in wide circles. After reaching about 50 feet, his wings start to make a twittering sound. At 200 to 300 feet the twittering stops and he gives a bubbly chipping song, while starting a zigzag descent, landing near the spot of takeoff. These displays are given at dawn, dusk and all night when the moon is full.
The American woodcock is a 9- to 12- inch-long, plump bird. It is brown above and pale orange-brown below. The bird has a large head and large eyes with a white eye-ring. The bill is long, enabling the bird to devour earthworms, insects and seeds. These birds breed in New York in April and migrate to Texas and Florida for the winter.
The nocturnal nature of the American woodcock challenges the bird watcher to make special preparations to observe their mating ritual.
So during April and May, listen for the PEENT, put on your hat, grab a flashlight and head out for a truly unique viewing.
Sightings
On June 5, naturalists saw the following birds at Jones Park, Vestal: pileated woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, prairie warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, field sparrow, red-eyed vireo and eastern pewee. They also saw many wildflowers.
Birders’ Watch is provided by members of the Naturalists’ Club of Broome County. This column was written by Linda Vick. For information on the Naturalists Club, write P.O. Box 191, Vestal, N.Y. 13850.
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