Video courtesy of Main Audubon Media

During mating season, males of many species engage in ritualistic courtship behaviors.  We find numerous examples in this area. The throaty croak of a bullfrog, the rhythmic flashing of a firefly or the purchase of a Porsche 911 by a middle aged divorcee.  These all serve the same purpose; to demonstrate the male’s desirability to the female of the species.  From an evolutionary standpoint, this allows the female to select to most desirable father for her offspring.  And few creatures work harder at this than the male American woodcock.

Early spring at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers a unique opportunity to observe the courtship rituals of this somewhat cartoonish looking bird. Typically at dawn or dusk, the male woodcock finds a favorable spot in a brushy location and begins with a series of ground calls that have been described as a short, buzzy “Peent”.  He then launches himself up to 300 feet into the air and rapidly descends in a zig-zag pattern while emitting a soft chirping song amid a flutter of wings.  Should this attract a female, he then struts around with wings outstretched to further demonstrate his connubial worthiness.

Having said this, it’s worth noting that the male woodcock is not exactly a model family man. He is likely to mate with several females during the season, and does not participate in nesting, incubating the eggs or caring for the young. Perhaps like that fellow with the Porsche.