
Greeley also points out that combined sex and age ratios of fall-shot 
woodcock have not been published because of the uncertain methods of 
recognizing birds of the year. Although bill length has been the 
best character for determining the sex by external examination it was 
pointed out by Greeley (loc.cit.) that the width of the outer primaries 
(3) in the female woodcock are noticeably greater than in the male. 
Although admitting that such a sex difference was present, Westfall 
(1954) concluded that Greeley's method of sexing woodcock was not 
practical for use by field biologists because of the great variation 
in measurements exhibited by different individuals. However, 
statistical tests made by Westfall indicate that there is a valid sex 
difference in size as first pointed out by Greeley. It would seem 
that a fixed measurement device or tool could be devised which would 
be useful if used consistently by technicians. This would avoid un- 
certainties resulting from different techniques. 
Greeley, Frederick 1953. Sex and age studies in fall-shot 
woodcock (Philohela minor) from southern Wisconsin. 
Journ. Wilcl. Memt., I7(1):29=32. Jan.1953. 
Howell, Arthur H. and van Rossem, Ae Je 1928. A study of the 
Red-winged Blackbirds of southeastern United States. 
Auk, 45(2):155-163. 
Mendall, Howard L. and Aldous, Clarence M. 1943. The Ecology 
and Manegement of the American Woodcock. 
Maine Coop. Wildi. Res. Unit, Univ.of Maine,Crono, 
Me., 2Ol pp. 
Pettingill, Clin Sewall, Jr. 1936. The American Woodcock, 
Philohela minor (Gmelin). 
Memoirs of the Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. 9(2):169- 
391; pl.1¢-21; fig.l-7. 
Ridgway, Robert 1919. The Birds of North and Middle America, 
Bulli. 50, U. S. National Museum, part 8; 852 pp. 
Westfall, Claude Z. 1954. A study of woodcock behavior on their 
breecing grcunds in central Maine. 117 pp. 
(Unpublished Masters Thesis, Univ. of Maine, Crono, 
Me., June 195). 
46 
