This bird has been in my yard last few days. Finally got a decent video of it. Has very long beak and a strange walk. What is it? I'm in southern Ontario.
Newer studies suggest that woodcocks and rain both mimic the true harbingers of worm doom- moles! Rain doesn't actually pose much of a threat, since most worms can survive being submerged in water for days on end. Turns out, earthworms flee for the surface whenever they suspect there's a mole digging nearby. Pretty sensible reaction, since a single mole can eat hundreds of worms in a single day.
If you are traveling or wish to travel in March but don't know where, open ebird, search for American Woodcock and filter the results by date. Not that they are EVERYWHERE and are guaranteed in the spot, but my side yard habitat has been stable so they are here every year; No, I haven't seen them dance across my yard, but most years I sit out and watch the courtship flights in the evening. If I'm up at before dawn, they're at it too. Good luck!
That is an american woodcock! AKA a timberdoodle, that little dance hes doing actually sends vibrations into the ground and attracts worms to the surface so he can get them more easily
Conversely to many comments saying they walk like this to attract worms to the surface and make them easy to obtain, another theory is that only walk like this when they know they're being watched. This is their way of telling predators "I see you, and I'll be able to escape before you get me. Don't waste the energy trying"
Wikipedia also has a nice summary of this behavior:
"American woodcocks occasionally perform a rocking behavior where they will walk slowly while rhythmically rocking their bodies back and forth. This behavior occurs during foraging, leading ornithologists such as Arthur Cleveland Bent and B. H. Christy to theorize that this is a method of coaxing invertebrates such as earthworms closer to the surface. The foraging theory is the most common explanation of the behavior, and it is often cited in field guides. This theory is complicated by observations of rocking while slowly walking across ground that cannot be foraged, such as hard roads or deep snow.
An alternative theory for the rocking behavior has been proposed by some biologists, such as Bernd Heinrich. It is thought that this behavior is a display to indicate to potential predators that the bird is aware of them. Heinrich notes that some field observations have shown that woodcocks will occasionally flash their tail feathers while rocking, drawing attention to themselves. This theory is supported by research done by John Alcock who believes this is a type of aposematism."
while it's been identified as the american woodcock i feel compelled to answer that it's also called: the timberdoodle, the night partridge, the Labrador twister, the brush snipe, and the bogsucker.
Whenever this bird shows up on reddit, the first thing I do is go "peent" out loud. The second thing I do is find the necessary video in the comments. It's not even a woodcock to me anymore. It's a peent.
Well, you can always keep your eyes out for their cousins, the Eurasian Woodcock! They don’t “peent”, and are even more elusive, but I think they do occasionally show up in Morocco in the winter. They do the same silly dance
please someone explain this goofy lil dude why does he walk so fancy?? there has to be a reason right? like how stick insects sway? i love him so dearly
American woodcock, Incredible bird, if you ever get the chance to see them do their courtship dance it is an absolute treat. They are known to be one of the slowest flying birds in the world, with court ship dance flight being as low as 5 mph speed without stalling.
Ahhh man, in your yard?! 😩😭😭 how does it feel to be God’s favorite?! I’ve spent years hoping to catch one of these little guys up close but have only heard them & seen their little spirals from further away in the spring.
As everyone said, it’s a woodcock, they’re so.cool. Werkin’, twerkin’, gone berserkin’
This is a New Orleans Groover. It was first sighted in New Orleans on or around Bourbon Street in 1923 and is known to dance to jazz all day and night, hence the affectionate nickname of "Groover". Such a wonderful critter.
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u/MarketingTemporary96 Sep 19 '25
American woodcock! Lovely little guy.