American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,591 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Woodcock: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Woodcock
The American woodcock (Scolopax minor), sometimes colloquially referred to as the timberdoodle, is a small chunky shorebird species found primarily in the eastern half of North America. Woodcocks spend most of their time on the ground in brushy, young-forest habitats, where the birds' brown, black, and gray plumage provides excellent camouflage.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Woodcock by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,250 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Ohio | 860 | May | Mar–May |
| Pennsylvania | 734 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 644 | March | Mar–May |
| Maryland | 565 | March | Feb–Mar |
| New Jersey | 565 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Texas | 560 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Illinois | 476 | March | Mar–May |
| Virginia | 368 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Michigan | 362 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Vermont | 347 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Minnesota | 299 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 281 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Maine | 266 | March | Mar–Sep |
| North Carolina | 203 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Connecticut | 196 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 187 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Indiana | 170 | March | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 131 | March | Feb–Apr |
| West Virginia | 130 | March | Feb–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 123 | March | Mar–Jul |
| Tennessee | 120 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Louisiana | 92 | November | Nov–Feb |
| District of Columbia | 76 | March | Mar–Mar |
| South Carolina | 72 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Georgia | 64 | February | Oct–Mar |
| Florida | 58 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Alabama | 55 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Arkansas | 54 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Iowa | 49 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 44 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 37 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Arizona | 29 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Mississippi | 29 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Delaware | 23 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Kansas | 21 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Nebraska | 16 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Mexico | 12 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Colorado | 9 | January | Jan–Jan |
| South Dakota | 9 | March | Mar–May |
| North Dakota | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Woodcock?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is American Woodcock most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania.