Timberdoodles are crawling through the young, moist forests and grasslands of the Carolinas. Most people never see them, but the lucky ones get to see their sky dance. Timberdoodles (Scolopax minor) are also called woodcock, mudsucker, mudsnipe, mudbat, night partridge or Labrador twisters. They are the only woodcock native to the Americas, with the other species in Europe and Asia.
Woodcock are cryptic, elusive, and rarely seen, but they are game birds in South Carolina. When people see them for the first time, they often believe they aren’t real. Mudbats are about the size of a robin with dark streaked buff colored plumage that perfectly matches the forest floor. You often don’t see them until they erupt from the ground a few feet from you. They weigh between 6 and 8 ounces, with the females slightly bigger than the males. Their bill is up to 3 inches long and sensitive to touch and pressure near the tip to detect movement of invertebrates in the soil. The tip of the upper mandible (upper portion of the beak) is flexible so prey can be captured underground. Rough edges on the bill and tongue help to hold their prey while it is pulled out of the ground. The nostrils are on the beak close to the skull so they can breathe while their bill is underground. The eyes are far up on the skull so woodcock’s can see predators from above while feeding. This is a disadvantage when flying with poorer vision in front of the bird leading to building and tower collisions. The ears are located between the eyes and the beak, so the skull is organized differently than most birds. The brain is also different with the cerebellum (controls muscle movement) located back and downward compared to other birds. It is almost like the brain is upside down. They look goofy, don’t have much of a neck, and their brain is scrambled, but they are highly adapted to be successful in their habitat.
Woodcock are a shorebird related to snipes, but their habitat is moist, early successional forests and shrubby areas during the day and open grassy areas at night. They are primarily nocturnal (active at night) and crepuscular (active at sunrise and sunset). They need moist soil to feed and will abandon areas if the soil is exceptionally dry or frozen. Woodcock have been observed tapping the ground on dry soil. It is hypothesized that this behavior causes worms to think it is raining so they head to the surface.
When walking, mudsuckers really strut their stuff with their short legs and plump bodies. As they walk, they seem to waddle through the leaf litter while their head does not change position. Try listening to “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees while watching a video of them strutting. It fits perfectly. The reason for this unusual strut is not known. It is hypothesized that as the birds hit the ground with their feet, they are feeling for the movement of invertebrates underground. Most of the food comes from underground and includes earthworms, grubs, snails, insects, and occasionally some seeds.
Woodcock are year-round residents in all parts of the Carolinas except for the higher elevations of the mountains. During the fall, there is a mass migration south as woodcocks seek warmer climates without frozen soil. The populations really increase by early December with migratory woodcock starting to move north by February. While they are spending the winter in the South, the males will perform their sky dance to attract a mate. They find an area with an open canopy or grassy field and begin their call. The call sounds like a buzzy “peent.” They are inviting the females to come check out their moves. After a few minutes of peenting, the male suddenly flies upward and makes whistling sounds with the flight feathers. After reaching a height of 200 and 300 feet, he circles downwards while making chirping noises with his mouth. He is silent when he reaches the ground before he peents and repeats the process. If a female has come to inspect him, he may raise his wings and do a stiff legged strut. All this occurs soon after sunset and right before sunrise. If the female is impressed, they will mate and the relationship is over. The dance can continue for several months, and the males mate with multiple females but do not assist with rearing the chicks.
A mudbat nest is simply slight depression on the ground near the base of a tree or shrub. Up to four pink to buff-colored eggs with brown spots are laid between March and June. An egg is laid each day until the clutch is complete and incubation begins. Beginning incubation after the last egg is laid ensures synchronous hatching. The eggs are incubated for about 20 days. The precocial chicks have feathers and are able to move and feed soon after hatching. Precocial means they leave the nest soon after hatching. The chicks are buff colored with dark spots, so they are well camouflaged. They will freeze when threatened or hear an alarm call from the mother. The mother will sometimes squeal and act like she has a broken wing to draw attention to her instead of chicks only to make a quick get away when a predator approaches. Pretty smart for an upside-down bird brain. The chicks follow their mother and learn feeding techniques. Earthworms are high calorie, so the chicks grow quickly. After two weeks they can fly and by week four they are nearly the size of an adult. They typically leave their mother by week six.
As game birds, hunting woodcock is regulated by the SC Department of Natural Resources, but the daily limit is low. The birds are no longer abundant primarily due to habitat changes. They prefer early successional forests or areas that have recently been burned or thinned with moist soil. Development, conversion to agriculture and changes in forestry practices have reduced available habitat. Habitat for woodcock and many Carolina wildlife species can be improved by thinning the forest when needed and using prescribed fire to reduce stem density and create openings.
Author
Robert Carter, Cooperative Extension, Area Forestry and Wildlife Agent
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