Summer behavior of adult radio-equipped woodcock in central Maine

The behavior of 26 adult American woodcock (Philohela minor) was studied in central Maine during the summers of 1971-73 using radiotelemetry. Adults used diurnal covers and nocturnal sites that were similar to those previously recorded for immature woodcock. The adults, however, were more active during the daylight hours and moved to nocturnal sites later in the evening. Adult woodcock seemed to be less susceptible than immatures to capture by banding crews at night, because adults walked more often between diurnal and nocturnal sites and remained close to the brushy edges at night. Adult birds occupied a smaller composite summer range than the immatures, did not move as far from their capture sites dunng the observation penods, and traveled shorter distances between diurnal and nocturnal sites.