Woodcock’s spiral flight a spectacular rite of spring

It wasn’t exactly a soft, warm evening – after all, this is April in Maine. But as I stood at the edge of the field, the brightness of the rising full moon and the sunset’s afterglow set the stage for a most important rite of spring.

The American woodcock is best known for its spectacular flight displays over its territory, which may range from a few hundred square feet to several acres. Launching itself up 200 to 300 feet, the male begins circling and weaving through the air. This erratic flight is accompanied by chirping and twittering, the latter sound actually caused by the outer three primary feathers of the bird’s wing.

After several seconds of this, the bird begins spiraling down to earth, seeming to plummet in an uncontrolled free fall until just above the ground, where it brakes and lands safely. It then resumes its signature call, which sounds like “peeeent,” over and over again.

Flight displays and “peeenting” are done above and upon open fields with some cover, often near wet areas. Researchers think this is an advertisement of a male’s presence to other males and to females, and a way to claim territory. The reason for the crazy, elaborate flight display is unknown – perhaps it showcases the bird’s fitness to a prospective mate.

Some observers think the male outlines his territory by landing in different places after each flight. He is the one that does most of the “peeenting,” but the female also may respond with this odd call when interacting with the male. Soon after one of the display flights, they may mate. The female then chooses a nest site nearby, in the open. It is nothing more than a scrape in the ground, lined with a few grasses and leaves. Her plumage blends so well with the environment that she often cannot be spotted until one is very close.

The female incubates the eggs for about 20 days. Once the young hatch, they follow their mother away from the nest to a wet area, where they begin probing the soft ground for earthworms and insects. Their long, ungainly looking bills are especially suited for this. All they need is a small patch of thawed earth.

During this period, the young are vulnerable, but the mother has a tactic that distracts predators away from them. If approached, the mother flies up and low over the ground, appearing injured. She’ll continue to do this until the predator is safely far away, then she quietly circles back to her chicks.

You can observe male woodcocks doing their flight display, and search for the females nearby, during the Fields Pond Nature Center’s “woodcock watch” at 7 p.m. Friday, April 27. There is a nominal fee. To sign up, call 989-2591.

Chris Corio, a volunteer at Fields Pond Nature Center, can be reached at fieldspond@juno.com.