Watercolor portrait of American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

American Woodcock

Scolopax minor
American Woodcocks breed across the east… Look for it in young forests, brushy thi… Fairly Common Peent (display call)

Learn to identify the American Woodcock by ear. Master the "nasal peent, twittering sky dance" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“PEENT... peent... PEENT”

What the American Woodcock sounds like

This chunky little shorebird traded beaches for damp woods. In the half-light, it waddles through leaf litter on short legs, bill probing for earthworms, then at dusk the male rockets into the sky for one of spring’s oddest courtship dances.

“nasal peent, twittering sky dance”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:The male gives a short, nasal, buzzy note from the ground at dusk. It sounds insect-like and a bit nighthawk-ish, carrying from a field edge or brushy opening. Often written as “PEENT... peent... PEENT”.
Don't confuse with:The Wilson's Snipe — slimmer and longer-necked, with a more elongated look.

Lessons featuring the American Woodcock

Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the American Woodcock's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.

Night Shift: Who's Out There? lesson habitat
Night Shift: Who's Out There?
Tier 1 · Right Out the Door
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Where you'll hear it

Look for it in young forests, brushy thickets, alder swales, and damp woodland edges with soft soil. It needs cover overhead and moist ground below.

Spring is the big show: males give their buzzy peent from the ground and then spiral into display flights at dusk. In fall, they slip south mostly at night, and in winter they keep to dense, damp cover.

Similar species

Wilson's Snipe

Slimmer and longer-necked, with a more elongated look.

Common Snipe

Very similar overall, but American Woodcock is chunkier, warmer brown, and more woodland-loving.

Whimbrel

Much larger, with long legs and a distinctly downcurved bill.

American Woodcock sound FAQ

What does an American Woodcock sound like?
The male gives a short, nasal, buzzy note from the ground at dusk. It sounds insect-like and a bit nighthawk-ish, carrying from a field edge or brushy opening. Listen for the "nasal peent, twittering sky dance" phrase.
How do I tell an American Woodcock from a Wilson's Snipe by sound?
Wilson's Snipe: Slimmer and longer-necked, with a more elongated look.; Usually found in open marshes and wet fields, not shady young woods.; Shows bold lengthwise stripes on the head and often gives a sharp scape call when flushed..
When is the best time to hear an American Woodcock?
Spring is the big show: males give their buzzy peent from the ground and then spiral into display flights at dusk. In fall, they slip south mostly at night, and in winter they keep to dense, damp cover.