
PRELIV{INARY ANALYSIS :OF WOODCOCK BAND RETURNS 
(1) 
leslie L. Glasgow 
Louisiana State University 
Much of the information in this manuscript was used through the 
courtesy of (1) the Section of Distribution of Birds and Mamnals, 
J. S. Fish and Wildlife. Service, (2) the P-R Section, Louisiana Wild 
Life and Fisheries Commission, (3) S. Liscinsky, Pennsylvania Game 
Commission, (,) William Sheldon, Massachusetts Coop. Wildlife Research 
Unit, (5) H. Mendall, Maine Coop. Wildlife Research Unit, (6) B. 
Wright, N. F. Wildlife Experiment Station and (7) L. Bilanitenshiin’ 
iichigan : Conservation Department. 
Of all our migratory game birds, the American woodcock has 
presented the most difficult migrational problems. Despite concerted 
effort to obtain gave for this species, many migration facts remain a 
mystery. 
The information derived from band returns is perhaps the most 
reliable source of migration data. However, the number of usable’ band 
returns for’ the American woodcock is so small that at the present time 
the plotting of all return sites on a map shows. only probable travel 
routes. Therefore the reader is cautioned that the migration patterns 
suggested in this manuscript are rather speculative in nature. However, 
they are bolstered by information gained from many conversations and 
much correspondence with game biologists throughout the woodcock's 
range plus a fairly thorough review of the literature. 
Return locations of bands obtained from outside the state of 
banding are shown on the map.in Figure 1. This map contains all wood- 
cock long distance band returns on file in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Bird Banding Office. The solid dots represent recovery loca- 
tions for woodcock banded in the South; the crosses for those banded 
in the Northeast and the Maritime Provinces, and the inverted "V" for 
those banded in the Lake States. | 
Since little difference was detected in migration routes when 
band recoveries were plotted by season of recovery or when plotted 
according to time lapse between banding and recovery, all recovery 
locations were plotted on the same map. In examining the map it must 
be remembered that migratory woodcock are not confined to a narrow 
corridor but rather they are spread over a broad region, the breadth 
of which may be, so wide as to preclude calling it a zone. It is prob- 
able that the extent of the area covered during migration is governed 
by the size of the geographic regions supplying suitable cover and 
Soil moisture. Both of these factors, but esrecially cover, undoubt- 
edly exert a great influence on the length of time woodcock remain in 
an area and therefore determine to a great extent the probability of 
the birds being discovered. Woodcock probably cross in a short time 
(1) L.S.U. School of Forestry and Agricultural Experiment Station 
and Wildlife Department, Texas i & M. 5/ 
