A member of the shorebird family, adapted to living in upland areas, the woodcock is found in virtually every Pennsylvania county. It prefers abandoned farmland habitat with moist woods nearby. Any location that provides thick cover, moist ground with earthworms and quarter-acre sized open areas for singing grounds will suffice. The latter provides an opportunity for the twilight observer to witness a unique avian courtship ritual. In Pennsylvania, woodcock begin arriving in late February.
Males begin their courtship display usually a half hour after sunset and just before dawn.
A bright moonlit night may induce the display to last on and off all night long. The amount of light intensity, 0.05 foot candles of light, rather than the time initiates the exhibition. Overcast days have earlier starting times than cloudless ones. He then flies in a spiraling climb with an audible whistling sound produced by air passing through his rapidly beating wing feathers. The flight continues 200-300 feet in height.