WildlifeOfEverywhere.com
‹ Back

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopacidae

Photo: (c) Guy Babineau, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)

Scolopax rusticola

Basic stats

Diet

Invertebrates

Habitat

Woodland

Range

Temperate and subarctic Eurasia; Asian populations migrate to the Indian subcontinent

Clutch size

1–2 white or creamy blotched eggs

Incubation period

21–24 days

Size

33–38cm including the 6–8cm bill

Wingspan

55–65cm

The Eurasian woodcock is a medium-small wading bird of temperate and subarctic Eurasia, 33–38 cm long including a straight bill of 6–8 cm, with a wingspan of 55–65 cm. It has cryptic camouflage to suit its woodland habitat, with intricately patterned reddish-brown upperparts and buff underparts, and the head is barred with black, not striped as in its close relatives the snipes. The male performs a courtship flight called roding at dusk in spring (Wikipedia, general species account).

About a third of the world's woodcock breed in Europe, with over 90% of the continent's population in Russia and Fennoscandia. Northern and Asian populations migrate, to southern Europe and the Indian subcontinent respectively. A single brood of one or two white or creamy eggs with light brown and grey blotches is laid, and incubation, by the female alone, lasts 21–24 days (Wikipedia, general species account).

Quick answers

What does the Eurasian Woodcock eat?
Invertebrates
What habitat does the Eurasian Woodcock live in?
Woodland
Where is the Eurasian Woodcock found?
Temperate and subarctic Eurasia; Asian populations migrate to the Indian subcontinent
How many eggs does the Eurasian Woodcock lay?
1–2 white or creamy blotched eggs
How long are the eggs of the Eurasian Woodcock incubated?
21–24 days
How big is the Eurasian Woodcock?
33–38cm including the 6–8cm bill
What is the wingspan of the Eurasian Woodcock?
55–65cm
📷 Upload a photo of this species
🏠Home 🗺️Places 🐾Species 📋Planner 📷Sightings 🔍Search