You can only meet a woodcock in a remote area of the forest, so most people know about the bird of the snipe family from the hunting stories of literary classics. In Russia, the bird is called the pine sandpiper or forest sandpiper. Picturesque plumage and tasty meat make the woodcock a favorite object of hunting. Only an experienced hunter can catch a cautious, dexterous bird that can disappear into the forest and blend in with its environment.
Origin of the species and appearance
The bird belongs to the snipe family, which is part of the order Charadriiformes. The name has German roots - “Waldschnepfe” (“forest snipe”). In terms of external body parameters, the bird is similar to the rock pigeon. The characteristic difference is a long narrow beak and motley plumage in shades of brown, red-brown.
Appearance Features:
- dense, squat body with a short neck;
- the thighs are feathered;
- weight – 200-450 grams;
- length – 32-38 centimeters, wingspan – 55-65 centimeters;
- the smooth straight beak in the form of a cylinder reaches 7-9 centimeters.
The plumage is of a protective type, reliably hiding the bird from prying eyes. The brown-brown color of the feather is complemented by spots of gray, black, and red color on the upper part of the body. Due to this, the woodcock is not noticeable against the background of last year’s foliage and grass, and is camouflaged from the eyes of predators and hunters. The belly is a lighter color in shades of yellow and gray with black flecks. The chick at an early age has yellowish plumage with brown and black spots.
The wings are wide, and in flight the woodcock resembles an owl. The eyes are located in the center of the head, which provides the wood sandpiper with all-round visibility. Females and males do not differ in appearance. Coloration is slightly differentiated only in young and adult individuals.
Help: on each wing the woodcock has one characteristic feather, narrow and dense. The feathers are suitable for drawing particularly fine lines, which is why they are in demand by artists.
Habitat
Forest-steppes and forest zones of Eurasia are habitats for the wood sandpiper. The range covers the entire continent from the Pyrenees to the Pacific coast. Outside this zone, woodcocks also settle in Japan, the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Britain.In Russia, the habitat zone begins in the north of the Solovetsky Islands, covers the Black Earth Region, the Volga region, Western Siberia, Altai, and Primorye.
Most woodcocks are migratory birds. Only residents of the Atlantic islands and warm coastal countries do not leave their places. Woodcocks migrate singly or in small groups. They usually return to their original place. The migratory period of woodcocks starts with the approach of frost - at the end of September-November, depending on the habitat. Birds migrate to the following regions:
- Iran;
- Afghanistan;
- North Africa;
- south, west of Europe;
- Indochina.
Woodcock lives in secluded places of forests - mixed or deciduous. Wood waders settle near ponds, small swamps, and in secluded places with an undergrowth of raspberry and hazel bushes. Woodcock prefers areas of the forest that look inaccessible due to dense dead wood and low-growing ferns.
What does the bird eat?
A hard, long beak allows woodcocks to catch their favorite food - earthworms. Therefore, for living, the bird chooses the banks of reservoirs, where the moist, loose soil is densely populated with worms and insect larvae. The diet of the wood sandpiper includes:
- insects and larvae - sawflies, beetles, earwigs, spiders;
- plant foods - berries, grains, grass shoots, seeds;
- small mollusks and crustaceans - more often during migration.
The woodcock's beak contains nerve endings that detect the movement of living creatures in the ground. The bird plunges its beak into the soil up to its nostrils and searches for prey. In the absence of worms, it eats small insects and young greens.
Woodcock begins searching for food at night. The bird turns over pieces of bark and foliage with its beak, looking for larvae and insects. To search for worms, the wood sandpiper digs in soft humus and cow droppings.Plant roots also serve as food.
By the time of migration, the wood sandpiper stores fat for future use. With the beginning of autumn, woodcock comes out of the forest and feeds in grain fields, obtaining roots and seeds. During the day it hides in the forest, and at night it looks for food. Unlike ducks, the wood sandpiper feeds on small aquatic fauna infrequently, only during migration.
Features of the character and lifestyle of the woodcock
The wood sandpiper is a solitary bird and leads a reclusive lifestyle. Males and females meet only for the duration of mating, then separate. Even woodcocks often make flights one at a time, without gathering in a flock. In mountainous regions (the Caucasus), the bird often migrates vertically - in the summer it rises high, and during cold weather it descends down to the sea.
The bird's lifestyle is nocturnal. The day is given over to rest, the woodcock climbs into the thick of the forest, it is difficult to spot it among fresh and old foliage. The plumage of complex natural coloring and innate caution make woodcocks invisible against any background. The bird hides from predators and hunters and comes out for food only at night. When danger appears, it flies vertically upward, confusing the enemy. Woodcocks are excellent flyers, sharp, dexterous, and perform intricate complex movements in flight.
Wood waders practically do not produce sounds or sing, so it is difficult to find their habitats. The only exception is the mating season, during which males and females call each other with characteristic sounds.
Social structure and reproduction
Woodcocks do not form married couples even for one season.The male searches for a partner, flying at night over the possible habitats of females, and makes grunting sounds ending with a high-pitched whistle. If the female responds, the pair remains together for several days. Then the male flies away and looks for a new girlfriend, fertilizing 3-4 females per season.
The female makes a nest in advance in the most secluded areas of the forest on earth. The bottom of the hole is lined with moss, grass, and leaves. Flight from the nest is usually free; the bird can suddenly fly into the air when in danger. Clutch - 3-4 eggs, incubation time - 21-23 days. The female is responsible for incubating and raising the offspring alone. The eggs are beige-yellow with brown spots. During the day, the mother leaves to feed near the nest 3-4 times.
After 7-13 days, the chicks already leave the nest and feed themselves, exploring the surrounding area. In case of danger, the female leads people or predators away from the home, diverting attention to herself. At 3 weeks, woodcock chicks fly on their wings, and at the age of just over a month they become independent. At first they stay together, then settle in one area.
Natural enemies
The woodcock's camouflage coloration serves as protection against enemies, of which the bird has many. Daytime bird predators do not pose any particular danger, since it is almost impossible to detect a wood sandpiper hiding in dense thickets. Woodcocks are dangerous for nocturnal birds, which go out hunting when the forest sandpiper feeds. Owls and eagle owls are agile enough to catch a woodcock in flight.
The most vulnerable are females that sit on the clutch and feed their offspring. Females and chicks often become prey for foxes, martens, weasels, badgers, and ferrets. Nests are also destroyed by hedgehogs and small rodents that carry eggs and newborn chicks.
A significant part of the population dies during spring and autumn migrations due to the difficulties of the journey and the hunters guarding them along the way. Woodcock hunting has long ago moved from a method of obtaining food to a sporting competition, but there are more and more people who want to shoot the wary bird.
Information: most woodcocks do not live out their life (10-11 years), dying in the claws of predators or at the hands of hunters.
Population and species status
Despite the impressive number of enemies, including humans, international environmental organizations believe that the existence of the woodcock population is not threatened. The bird's habitat remains the same, covering vast areas of Eurasia.
Hunting for wood waders is regulated in every country, trying to protect the birds from destruction and decline in numbers. Sport hunting does not lose popularity; woodcocks are a desirable prey. Stuffed birds, due to their beautiful plumage, are in great demand, and woodcock dishes adorn the menus of expensive restaurants.
The main danger to the population comes not from wild and civilized hunters, but from changing living conditions. Secluded places where cautious flyers can exist peacefully are becoming fewer and fewer. Regulation of hunting seasons and protection of nature from aggressive human influence are the main directions for preserving the number of woodcocks.
Bird hunting
The Russian nobility was also fond of woodcock hunting. The main hunting trophies are valuable meat and skins, from which they make stuffed animals, popular because of their beautiful, colorful plumage. Hunting for wood waders is divided into 3 seasons - spring, before chicks hatch, summer and autumn, before migration. Shooting of females is limited so as not to reduce the population. Males are allowed to be shot.To attract wary birds, a decoy is used that makes sounds characteristic of females. The males fly at them under power.
It is convenient to hunt woodcock with a dog, which will find the shot prey and bring it to the owner. Otherwise, it is impossible to find a dead sandpiper among the grass and bushes. Another task of the cops is to locate the bird’s habitat, scare it away, and lift it onto the wing. At this time, the owner can shoot.
When hunting by traction, the main difficulty is to find places of mass flight of males and skillfully use a decoy. Wood waders caught during the autumn hunt are the most delicious - they have gained fat before the long flight. Woodcock hunting is difficult, requires patience and accuracy, is dynamic and very exciting.
Woodcock meat dishes
Sandpiper meat does not have the characteristic smell of game, so it does not need to be soaked. Experienced chefs recommend cooking woodcock with lard to make the dish tender and juicy. When frying, it is better to use butter (ghee) instead of vegetable oil; for juiciness, meat broth (chicken, beef) is also added.
In red wine
For one carcass you will need:
- pork lard – 50 grams;
- dry red wine – 100 milliliters;
- a handful of juniper berries;
- spices.
Prepare the carcass - wash it, carefully remove the skin. Rub the meat with berries and place thin pieces of lard on top. Return the skin to its place. Place the game in a deep saucepan, pour in wine. After boiling, cook for 30-40 minutes (until soft).
Stuffed
To prepare a dish of 6 birds you will need:
- white bread – 200 grams;
- milk – 100 milliliters;
- grated cheese – 150 grams;
- egg;
- greenery;
- butter – 150 grams.
Minced meat is being prepared. The bread is soaked in milk and crushed with a fork. Stir in chopped herbs, egg, cheese, 50 grams of butter.The carcasses are filled with minced meat and tied with thread. Place in a frying pan with melted butter and fry until crusty. Add broth and bring to readiness in the oven.
It is difficult to see a woodcock; the bird is a true master of camouflage. Most people are familiar with the bird from photographs and television shows. At the same time, nature lovers are pleased to know that large populations of cautious and beautiful birds, glorified in fiction and painting, live in the forests.
