American woodcocks have not only a unique mating ritual—a so-called “sky dance” in which males perform what Audubon.org calls a “high, twisting flight, with chippering, twittering, bubbling sounds” to woo females—but also, at times, a funny walk, captured on video here by Justin Kemp in Cherokee County, Kansas and shared with us by Justin’s uncle, Tom Ross, who often contributes photos to us. Experts aren’t sure why woodcocks walk this way, but among the theories are that the birds are feeling f

How to see the viral American woodcock's dance in CT

The sound you hear is not a frog, but the American Woodcock. Woodcock, also know as the Timberdoodle and a long list of other regional and fun names such as the Bogsucker, spend most of their time on the ground in and near brushy, young or successional forested habitats. Their long beak is well adapted at plunging into the soft ground to hunt their favorite prey, earthworms. Their plumage provides excellent camouflage, and for any of you that has had the fun experience of unexpectedly walking up

American Woodcock seen in a New York park during spring migration

What is the range of the American woodcock?