Reprinted by permission of the Patagonia Times.
Author and photographer – Tom Brown, manager of the Paton Center for Humminbirds
Last week, the Patagonia area got a very unusual visitor in the form of an American woodcock. Affectionately known as a “Timberdoodle” to many, this small secretive bird is actually fairly common in the eastern United States, but this is only the second recorded visit to Arizona by this species.
The bird was first spotted on Saturday, March 1, between the Paton Center for Hummingbirds and The Nature Conservancy in an area local birders call “the Cut-bank.” This is an area where the creek comes very close to the road, causing some erosion, and allowing some of the only views of the flowing water along the entire Blue Heaven Road. Given the small size of this bird, the small window of viewing opportunity, and how well it is camouflaged, it is quite miraculous that it was ever spotted. In addition, the bird is rarely ever seen during the day, and usually only then when it is flushed, or spooked from cover.
The American woodcock shown here was first spotted in Patagonia on March 1 about 400 yards south of the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. It is only the second member of its species to have ever been recorded in Arizona
The American woodcock is a short squatty bird, with an intricately patterned back, buffy lower parts and a very long bill that it uses to probe the muddy ground for worms. If you have ever had the chance to see the locally common Wilson’s Snipe, this bird is similar, just shorter and fatter, giving the appearance of having no neck.
One unusual feature of the woodcock is the location and size of its eyes: they are slightly oversized for the size of its head and located high on the head, and far enough back that they can be seen when the bird is looking straight away from you. This has caused quite a few interesting comments from local birders who are getting their first looks at the bird, as it walks away from them.
After several days of allowing hundreds of excited birders to get really good views, our American woodcock has quietly disappeared. As we come into the peak of breeding season for this species, it is heartbreaking to know that it has almost no chance to find a mate. But I do hope it enjoys the stay here, as it wanders peacefully up and down Sonoita Creek, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the protected area between the Paton Center and The Nature Conservancy.