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American Woodcock

Scolopax minor

Bird · family Scolopacidae · order Charadriiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Woodcock
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
38 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
11 years[4]

The American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a bird in the family Scolopacidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to 38 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the American Woodcock a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2]. In the United States its rank is N5B,N5N, which means Secure for breeding birds and Secure for birds that spend the winter here[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. NatureServe notes that over the two decades 1980 to 1999 the overall annual decline was small and not statistically significant, while some regions, including the Northeast and the Great Lakes, saw significant declines[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] >1,000,000 individuals

Where American Woodcock lives

NatureServe lists the American Woodcock as native in 38 US states and territories[3]. These include Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Florida and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia[3]. Each state has its own NatureServe rank, and these differ from place to place[11]. The National Park Service records the bird in 87 park units[12]. These lists show where the species is recorded, not a promise that you will see it there[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5B,S5NMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S5BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4BNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S4ILMichigan: native, state rank S4MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4B,S4NMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S2BSDIowa: native, state rank S4B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4B,S3N,S3MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4B,S4NRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S3NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRBMOKentucky: native, state rank S4BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S4B,S4NMDDelaware: native, state rank S2B,S3NDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S2BKSArkansas: native, state rank S2B,S3NARTennessee: native, state rank S4BTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4B,S4NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3NDCOklahoma: native, state rank S3OKLouisiana: native, state rank S1B,S5NLAMississippi: native, state rank S3B,S4NMSAlabama: native, state rank S3B,S5NALGeorgia: native, state rank SUGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2B,S3NTXFlorida: native, state rank S3B,S4NFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (38 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS3B,S5NVulnerable (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
ArkansasS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
District of ColumbiaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
FloridaS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaSUUnrankable
IllinoisS4Apparently Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS2BImperiled (breeding)
KentuckyS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
LouisianaS1B,S5NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MaineS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
MarylandS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
MassachusettsS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
MichiganS4Apparently Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
NebraskaS3Vulnerable
New HampshireS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaS3Vulnerable
PennsylvaniaS4B,S3N,S3MApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding), Vulnerable (migrant)
Rhode IslandS4B,S4NApparently Secure (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS2BImperiled (breeding)
TennesseeS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
TexasS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
VermontS5BSecure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe describes this bird as a species of young forests, old fields and forest edges[13][14]. It uses a mix of habitats over the day and the seasons, such as forest openings for spring singing displays, young hardwoods on moist soil for feeding and cover, and large fields for roosting at night[14]. NatureServe also records forested wetland, bog or fen, riparian areas, cropland hedgerows and temporary pools[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

The American Woodcock is about 28 cm (11 in) long[15]. It weighs about 219 g[16]. It eats mainly invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone[17][18]. Earthworms make up nearly 80% of the diet, and the bird finds them by probing mud or damp ground[17]. EltonTraits estimates the diet at 100% invertebrates[19]. A female lays about four eggs and incubates them for about 20 days[20][21][22]. Females reach sexual maturity at about 300 days[23]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 11 years 4 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 28 cm (11 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 219 g (7.7 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[24] 20.9 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 11 years 4 months
Litter or clutch size[21] 4
Gestation or incubation[22] 20 days
Female maturity[23] 300 days (about 0.8 years)
Food habits[18] Invertivore
Migration[25] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[19]

  • 100% invertebrates

When to look for it

Birds that breed in the north migrate, and they travel at night[26]. Most move from wintering areas to breeding areas in late January and early February, and they arrive from mid-March to early April[26]. Breeding starts in early January to February in the south and early April in the north, and it usually ends by early June[20]. Male courtship displays happen at dusk and dawn, and also through the night when the moon is full[27]. Observation records on GBIF peak in March, April and May, which shows when people report the bird, not how many birds there are[28].

January: 11,487 recordsJanFebruary: 26,515 recordsFebMarch: 89,701 recordsMarApril: 58,120 recordsAprMay: 59,885 recordsMayJune: 13,792 recordsJunJuly: 8,169 recordsJulAugust: 4,860 recordsAugSeptember: 6,748 recordsSepOctober: 13,194 recordsOctNovember: 12,475 recordsNovDecember: 10,528 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January11,487
February26,515
March89,701
April58,120
May59,885
June13,792
July8,169
August4,860
September6,748
October13,194
November12,475
December10,528

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American Woodcock as present in 87 park units[12]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 63 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, Maine[29]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American Woodcock endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) and it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].
Where does the American Woodcock live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 38 US states and territories, including Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin[3].
What does the American Woodcock eat?
It eats mainly invertebrates, and earthworms make up nearly 80% of its diet[17].
How big is an American Woodcock?
NatureServe records a length of about 28 cm (11 in)[15]. It records a weight of about 219 g[16].
How long does an American Woodcock live?
The oldest known banded wild bird was at least 11 years 4 months old[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. American Woodcock is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Woodcock: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Woodcock as native in 38 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild American Woodcock from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 11 years 4 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a bird in the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B,N5N (Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. American Woodcock is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for American Woodcock. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for American Woodcock (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. NPSpecies park lists recording American Woodcock as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Woodcock: Forest - hardwood, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - mixed, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Temporary pool, Forested wetland, Bog/fen, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Woodcock. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 28 cm (11 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 219 g (7.7 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on food for American Woodcock. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  20. NatureServe notes on reproduction for American Woodcock. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  22. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 20 days. AnAge
  23. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 300 days (about 0.8 years). AnAge
  24. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 20.9 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  25. NatureServe migration category for American Woodcock: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for American Woodcock. NatureServe Explorer
  27. NatureServe notes on phenology for American Woodcock. NatureServe Explorer
  28. GBIF observation records of American Woodcock in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  29. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Woodcock: Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, Maine. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.