A bulky bird with short legs and a long bill, the woodcock’s mottled buff, brown and black plumage provides it with perfect camouflage as it sits motionless in the leaf litter of the woodland floor with its large eyes high on the sides of the head giving a 360-degree vision.
They are almost impossible to spot and can be notoriously difficult to flush, especially when they are brooding. Once persuaded into the air, however, the rufous rump becomes more obvious as the bird departs with whirring wings and the erratic fluttering flight that shooters consider such a challenge.
Like the closely related snipe, the long bill is used to probe deeply into the ground in search of earthworms and other food items, with sensitive nerveendings allowing them to locate food. The outermost quarter of the bill can also be opened while the rest remains closed, allowing a firm grip to be taken on prey.
Habits
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Thermal spectrum
Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared
Roe, rucks and new ground
Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades
Fox rot about Charlie
Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane
The sniff of success
Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion
Adventures of Nick & Ted
A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Vet's advice
Gundogs Q&A
No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts
Stop-start!
Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice