Habitat and Behavior of the American Woodcock in Northcentral Oklahoma

Abstract

I studied the ecological relationships of a very habitat-specific bird, the American woodcock (Philohela minor, Gmelin), in northcentral Oklahoma, on the southwestern fringe of its range in North America. The primary objective was to evaluate relationships .between woodcock and their habitat by analyzing their breeding behavior, observing their response to habitat manipulation, determining their seasonal numbers and distribution, and by attempting to identify factors responsible for scarcity of woodcock in summer months.