How to Timberdoodle: Woodcock Watching in Spring

One of nature's most amazing performances takes place in mud season at dusk in a field near you. Learn from North Branch Nature Center naturalists about the American Woodcock's mating display and sky dance, and learn how you can see this spectacle up close.
Special thanks to Zac Cota for the awesome woodcock footage!
For more about American Woodcocks:
www.allaboutbi...
Audio by Andrew Spencer
Photographs by Bryan Pfeiffer and Zac Cota
Videos by Zac Cota
**North Branch Nature Center needs your support! If this series is valuable to you, please make a contribution at northbranchnaturecenter.org/support-nature**
** All of our online content is available at northbranchnaturecenter.org/**

[@johnblair8146]

I call 'em Disco Birds. LOVE 'EM!!!!!

[@mohsennourani9802]

It's voice, walk and appearance are very funny. It is nature's best comedian.😂

[@Bo-my5bn]

Great video but sadly I don’t live in America (Australia), I enjoyed learning about them nonetheless!

[@SonicSanctuary]

Peeent! Peent! Peent!

[@fossilfighters101]

**warbly whistley noises**

[@Tinlion09]

"The Labrador Twister" is definitely not a phrase that comes to mind when I look at a woodcock.

[@coreylapinas1000]

But he's doing the Twist

[@Johnny-sj9sj]

Here in Kent, England 🇬🇧 we call it the cute and cuddly lesser spotted feckwit. Reference the speed of the flight, they are the slowest flyers anywhere at five mph.

[@donaldturner5124]

Since a Woodcock lives primarily on the ground amongst the leaves, I believe their strange bounce is to mimic leaves fluttering in the breeze.

[@goldenfire5]

I always thought it was to create vibrations on the ground, like the rain, to encourage the worms to come out.

[@donaldturner5124]

@@goldenfire5 that’s a great opinion and I never thought of it!

[@pinecedar180]

No. Disagreed

[@kathleensue1]

Thank makes sense

[@NuclearNoMore]

That's what I've always thought, too. I'm pretty sure you're right, because it deters predators.

[@Prisoner416]

I came here from Collective Peent.

[@Shinzon23]

Swiggity Swooty bird.

[@mattolsonmusic8683]

Hey thanks we tried this and it actually worked!

[@laceysnow4048]

Can't wait to try this in the spring. Great video!

[@raytsh]

I really appreciate the point on not disturbing the bird. However, I am wondering if shining a bright light at the bird, as seen in the video, is not disturbing them?

[@UQRXD]

The bird landed right on my head!

[@NarfBLAST]

fOOtbALLsIZED?

[@eatwhatukiii2532]

I have a bunch of males displaying here this year.

[@thebluehotel426]

Cute as the dickens

[@omarassemujjuadrian4592]

I'm in the wrong country ! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ but thanks anyway.

[@c.f.7408]

I was not expecting it to make that sound!

[@ZXL000]

Nah he called the MEEP BIRB

[@Adil14912ali]

Loved your narration and story. Hope to visit nbnc and learn about American birds... That's whenever I can manage to visit the USA.

[@goldilockz6517]

Did you ever manage to visit? :)

[@ericbitzer5247]

I love these birds!

[@sheilatruax6172]

American football or European football?

[@andrealouis-visser4973]

Thank you for this information!

[@undercarver8777]

Brilliant!

[@sadikrady6066]

دجاجة الأرض او حمار الحجل..

[@irinadanielewski4633]

Hört sich an ob er ein frosch verschluckt hat

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Hört sich an,* als ob er einen* Frosch* verschluckt hat.*

[@Rayadillolater]

Que lindo lo que hace el señor ❤

[@1337fraggzb00N]

Das best bird 🥰🥰🥰

[@RobertCraft-re5sf]

AKA the MEEP 😂

[@miramor]

Stop talking!

[@sarcasmunlimited1570]

Evolution takes many curious steps.

[@KaraA-th4gc]

Correction: GODS' creations are amazing

[@كرمان-ذ1د]

سبحان الله الخالق 😭🤍

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Gods all were invented by prehistoric, uneducated humans. Being fictional figures they cannot create anything. Every bird was created by its parent birds. Fact.

[@debramacbride2946]

Nothing tastes better than Timberdoodle and Apple Struddle. 🙂

[@sheilatruax6172]

WHAT???!!! Surely not!!

[@1qw2ize]

This is fantatstic! Thank you! Posted it on FB-- facebook.com/crtrwa