Large, stocky woodland shorebird. Brownish overall. Strongly patterned with bars and stripes to blend in with the forest floor. Patterned brownish head and neck with large dark eye, dark lores and dark stripe below eye. Dark crown with several white bars. Long thick pink bill with darker tip. Brown back and wings barred, striped and splotched in other shades of brown, gray and black. Pale gray underparts barred with dark brown. Gray legs. American Woodcock is pale cinnamon brown below and lacks barring on flanks; wing coverts less patterned than Eurasian Woodcock.

Length: 33 (cm) Wingspan: 55 (cm)

Habitat:

Open, moist deciduous woodlands with leaf litter. Fields and meadows.

Behavior:

Usually very secretive. Often forages at night.

Feeding:

Diet consists of earthworms, insects and spiders.