 Our Local Ecology Air & SkyWoodcock – Philohela minor
& Common Snipe – Capella gallinago
 | Characteristics The woodcock is a chunky rust-brown bird slightly larger than a robin. It has an extremely long bill to probe in soft mud for food and large round eyes to see at dawn and dusk when feeding. It has a very short neck, several dark bars across the crown, and rounded wings. The common snipe also has a very long bill, and in size and shape looks very much like a woodcock except that it is grayer, has pointed wings, and lacks crossbars on the head. When flushed it flies away in a zig-zag pattern, uttering a few raspy warning peeps. | |
| Habitat The woodcock is found in young poplar and birch stands of less than 20 feet tall especially during the early autumn. Later it seems to prefer alder swamps with sparse grass understory. Snipe prefer open marshy or boggy areas, and are often hunted in wet pastures containing areas of short open rushes bordered by alders. Both woodcock and snipe nest in most parts of Prince Edward Island where suitable wet feeding areas are found. Woodcock are said to feed largely on earthworms. Both species nest on the ground near good feeding sites. The male woodcock sets up a small breeding territory on a dry sparsely wooded knoll in April. Each morning and evening in the twilight he attracts females by incessant peenting noises and periodic musical aerial flights. Female woodcock nest on dry ground near these singing grounds. The male snipe cruises over his marshy territory making periodic sky dives. These terminate in a rapid pullup which creates a characteristic "winnowing" noise as the air rushes through his feathers. | |
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Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife FederationAll pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
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