The wings are very rounded, and the outermost wing feathers are attenuated to produce vibratory sounds during flight, apparently at will. The display takes place at dusk, and the soaring and dropping sequence may be performed repeatedly for a period of 30 minutes. The American woodcock breeds in temperate North America, and it winters in the southeastern United States. Both sexes are approximately the same in size, about 35 cm long. In the courtship display, known as roding, the male utters croaking sounds as he flies low over the treetops, following a triangular path.
Winter provides a plethora of opportunities for photographs.
The hardwood trees are skeletal forms in their naked stance. Once-cluttered scenes can take on a whole new look when covered with a blanket of fresh snow. Here and there, singular animal tracks tell the story of winter life. The low angle of the sun throws long shadows across the pared-down landscape, and with the lack of color, our images can become studies in form and shape. With all the whiteness of a snowy scene, camera meters go a little berserk.