©
© Agami / Helge Sorensen
Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland - Priority species
Eurasian Woodcock
The Eurasian Woodcock is the only member of the sandpiper family that lives in the forest. It breeds only in forests with sufficiently moist soils rich in earthworms, which have open areas or clearings. It is one of the most secretive breeding bird species in Switzerland, and only the males can readily be heard and seen, on their characteristic mating flights at dusk. It is therefore often difficult to make definitive statements about populations and trends. What is certain is that its distribution area in the Jura has shrunk over the past 20 years or so and that the species has disappeared from the Central Plateau. The reasons for this are still unclear. Possible factors include changes to forests, disturbance, the spread of human settlement, hunting, lack of food due to soil acidification, or other as yet unknown factors.
Distribution and development
Schematic distribution
Schematic distribution during the breeding season (ochre), in winter time (dotted in blue) or during migration periods (dotted in vinaceous).
Breeding bird index
The graph shows the relative evolution of the breeding population in Switzerland (100 = mean value). Example: A value of 130 means that the population in the corresponding year was 30% above the mean value of the entire period considered.
Habitat and food
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© Pierre Mollet
– The Eurasian Woodcock has a huge distribution area, which extends from western Europe (France/Britain) as far as Asia’s Pacific coast in northern Japan.
– BirdLife International classifies the species as least concern (LC), but populations are declining in many countries in western and southern Europe.
©
© Pierre Mollet
– The Eurasian Woodcock has a huge distribution area, which extends from western Europe (France/Britain) as far as Asia’s Pacific coast in northern Japan.
– BirdLife International classifies the species as least concern (LC), but populations are declining in many countries in western and southern Europe.
Conservation programme for birds in Switzerland - Priority species
Eurasian Woodcock
The Eurasian Woodcock is the only member of the sandpiper family that lives in the forest. It breeds only in forests with sufficiently moist soils rich in earthworms, which have open areas or clearings. It is one of the most secretive breeding bird species in Switzerland, and only the males can readily be heard and seen, on their characteristic mating flights at dusk. It is therefore often difficult to make definitive statements about populations and trends. What is certain is that its distribution area in the Jura has shrunk over the past 20 years or so and that the species has disappeared from the Central Plateau. The reasons for this are still unclear. Possible factors include changes to forests, disturbance, the spread of human settlement, hunting, lack of food due to soil acidification, or other as yet unknown factors.
Birds of Switzerland
Eurasian Woodcock
To the species profile in the bird database
Project managers
Threats, activities and forecasts
Limiting factors and threats
Limiting factors for the Eurasian Woodcock, and therefore also the causes of the declines described, are essentially unknown. They may include changes in the forest, disturbance, the spread of human settlement, hunting-related mortality and lack of food due to soil acidification.
Breeding season
- Other possible factors are reduction in habitat quality due to forest densification, nutrient inputs, disturbance, locally also hunting and, according to recent research and especially in the Central Plateau, light pollution.
- Role of predation largely unknown.
Migration/ Winter
- Hunting is probably the main limiting factor during migration. Between October and February, i.e. on the autumn migration and in its wintering grounds, the Eurasian Woodcock is subject to enormous pressure from hunting in south-west Europe.
Necessary activities
Monitoring
- Since 2017, the Swiss Ornithological Institute has run a species-specific monitoring programme, which has been further developed by individual cantons.
Conservation
- Too little is known about the main limiting factors during the breeding season for effective conservation programmes to be initiated.
- Around three years ago, the cantons in which hunting the Eurasian Woodcock is permissible put restrictions on hunting.
- The species is probably benefiting from measures taken to help the Western Capercaillie.
Research
- Research needed, primarily on possible limiting factors during the breeding season.
- Key here is the development of a method that enables the systematic capture of females in the breeding area. This problem is currently unresolved.
Prospects for success and prognostics
- In the Alps and especially in the northern foothills, the Eurasian Woodcock faces very few problems.
- It is not currently possible to make any reliable forecasts about its future in the Jura or possible recolonisation of the Central Plateau.
Conservation measures and stakeholders
Create patchy vegetation
Light entering through gaps in the forest allows the emergence of a dense shrub layer, which is typical of forests used by the Eurasian woodcock.
Cantons
Forestry
Prevent / minimize disturbances
Excessive nutrient inputs (e.g. nitrogen) can lead to massive changes in the food supply.
Cantons
Municipalities
Private individuals
Tourism and sport
©
© Agami / Helge Sorensen
Birds of Switzerland
Eurasian Woodcock
It is a very special experience to witness the Eurasian Woodcock’s display-flight on a balmy spring or summer evening. At dusk, before the first stars appear, the silhouette of a bird with an owl-like flight is suddenly outlined against the evening sky, whereby its long, downward-pointing bill can be clearly seen. This spectacle is accentuated by deep croaks sounding like a ventriloq...
To the species profile in the bird database
