Breeding Activity of American Woodcock in Alabama as Related to Temperature

Nests and broods of American woodcock (Scolopax minor) were located during late winter and early spring in Alabama from 1976 through 1985 using trained pointing dogs. The number of hours of search effort required to locate a nest or brood decreased linearly with an increase in the number of days in January with mean temperatures ≥4.4°C. Generally, warmer Januarys resulted in increased nesting activity by American woodcock in Alabama.