Timberdoodle Doodling in Snow

This strange creature with an extremely long bill is an American Woodcock. I found him this morning after last nights fresh snow. He migrated from a warmer climate recently, so I'm sure he's not too happy with this snow. His bill is used to sift through soil for bugs and worms.

Timberdoodle

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A 2nd experience in terms of seeing these elusive woodcocks, but a 1st in finding one on my own, I was thrilled to see this lil guy doing his mating ritual of bobbing and bowing for his lady, but..I never could locate where she was. What a great dance!

The American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), sometimes referred to as the Timberdoodle is a small chunky shorebird species found primarily in the eastern half of North America. Woodcock spend most of their time on the ground in brushy, young-forest habitats, where the birds' brown, black, and gray plumage provides excellent camouflage.
Because of the male Woodcock's unique, beautiful courtship flights, the bird is welcomed as a harbinger of spring in northern areas.