Excitement and nerves were at an all-time high as my car crept down the gravel road, the sun having just slipped below the horizon. I was on the hunt, following clues to lead me to my prize. My treasure was the somewhat elusive American woodcock, and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of their infamous skydance. Each spring, the males put on a dramatic display to attract a mate. They prefer a wet, forested area to hide out in, with a clearing nearby to perform their dance. The spring peepers and chorus frog songs that filled the air clued me in on being in the right place.
The wind whipped through the trees, and time ticked by as robins, chickadees, and other songbirds sang their evening delights, but I had yet to pick up on the distinctive call of the American woodcock. Doubt began to creep in with each minute that went by. I began to wonder if I had found the right place, and was on my way to accepting that I may not find what I was searching for tonight. That's when I heard it–the American woodcock's opening line to start his show.
Peent.
My head snapped to the direction of the sound, with my ears tuned in and excitement taking hold once more. There it was again, peent. The soft, almost nasally call was off in the distance. I started my car and continued creeping down the gravel road. A small, shadowed shape flashed before my car, and disappeared into the thicket on the other side of the road. A woodcock!
The woodcock landed on the gravel road, not 20 feet behind my car, and began to call out again. Peent. I watched his silhouette, barely letting a breath escape my lungs, not wanting to risk scaring him away. He continued his serenade for a few more minutes before rocketing into the air. The remaining light was dwindling fast, but I watched as he flew past and began his spiral upwards.
As he flew, I mainly tracked him with my ears–only catching an occasional glimpse with my eyes. The twittering noise of his wings gave him away, his physically modified flight feathers singing as air rushed through them. It was like being immersed in a natural surround sound theatre as he circled around, higher and higher, the whistling sound of his wings looping through my ears.
Suddenly the sound of his ascent stopped, and a new sound took its place. In the final act of his mating display, the woodcock fell from the sky, spinning acrobatically as he plummeted. I found it reminiscent of scenes in old cartoons with the twittering piano tunes escalating as the character falls through the air. But rather than crashing into the ground, he righted himself at the last moment, and landed near the same spot he took off from. He was hoping that a female had taken notice of his superior showmanship, and would be waiting in the spot he took off from. He was not so lucky this time around.
But rather than that being the end of the show, it's simply the first act of many. As he stood on the gravel road that was his stage, the Woodcock began to call again. Peent. His determination to impress the ladies will keep his show going into the night.
While I was not his intended audience, I was enthralled by his skydance. There is something to be said about being privy to the intricate lives of wildlife. It feels intimate, getting a small glance into their private lives. As I watched the woodcock’s dance, a few cars drove down the gravel road, but turned before reaching us. I couldn’t help but think they were so close to a show of a lifetime, and had no idea. The woodcock paid them no mind, continuing to call out before taking to the skies again.
Night had completely fallen by the time I headed home. As I left, I was grateful I witnessed the woodcocks skydance. It is amazing how the smallest moments leave lasting impressions, and the impactful memories that wildlife can impart. I wish I could thank him for letting me witness his display, and the lasting memories he unknowingly imparted. Instead, I left him still singing on the gravel road and wished him luck in his nighttime endeavors.
For more than 50 years, the Cable Natural History Museum has served to connect you to the Northwoods. Our Summer Calendar is open for registration! Visit our new exhibit, “Becoming the Northwoods: Akiing (A Special Place). Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and cablemuseum.org to see what we are up to.
Last Update: Jun 11, 2025 3:25 pm CDT
