Wildlifeof Nepal
Eurasian Woodcock
Shorebirds
Photo: (c) Guy Babineau, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Scolopax rusticola
Basic stats
Diet
Invertebrates
Habitat
Woodland
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. 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
- 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; wingspan 55–65cm