
COVER REQUIREMENTS OF BREEDING WOODCOCK IN CENTRAL MAINE 
Robert B. Weeden 
Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 
University of Maine 
The ecology and behavior of breeding woodcock in central Maine 
were studied for the purpose of obtaining information which would be 
of value for future environmental management of this species. Singing 
grounds, daytime resting and feeding covers, nesting and brood covers 
were located for purpose of determining cover preferences of woodcock 
and the relationships between the various portions of the breeding 
areas. To obtain data on movements adult birds were captured, marked, 
and released. Breeding populations were determined by means of annual 
ei of the males. The following conclusions were drawn from this 
study: 
le Breeding woodcock, in general, require young, open 
hardwood or mixed hardwood-conifer growth in which to 
carry on their spring and summer activities. On the 
Greenbush area, grey birch and alder stands are most 
often used for diurnal, nesting, and brood covers. 
Conifers, particularly young spruce, balsam fir, and 
larch, make up an average of 10 to 20 percent of the 
entire stand in all breeding covers. Areas receiving 
greatest usage are those which are moist and which 
have moderately thin ground cover. 
2. It was observed that woodcock exhibit strongest terri-~ 
torial behavior on the singing grounds. Diurnal covers 
are usually established and maintained by one adult 
male although on several occasions two birds were 
flushed from one cover, Nesting sites and brood 
covers are not actively defended although there is 
probably some tendency toward isolation during the 
nesting and post-nesting seasons. 
3. Most diurnal, nest, and brood covers are within 100 
yards of a singing ground. The average distance be- 
tween various portions of the breeding covers are as 
follows: (1) Between two singing grounds, 65 yards; 
(2) from singing ground to nest, 75 yards; (3) from 
nest to diurnal cover, 70 yards; and () from singing 
ground to nearest diurnal cover, 120 yards. Brood 
covers are not easily located after the young are 
over three days old, but are probably close to the 
nest site. 
he One female, marked for identification, was captured 
Summary of a thesis for the degree of Master of Science at the Univer- 
sity of Maine. 
hl 
