The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) is a webless migratory game bird found from the Gulf of Mexico to mid-Canada and from the Rocky Mountains eastward to the Atlantic coast. In the last decade woodcock populations have shown a long-term decline in numbers. Most woodcock research has taken place in the northern portions of the bird's range, with practically no investigations conducted in Kentucky. The objective of my study was to determine what habitat characteristics woodcock prefer for nest sites in central Kentucky. Study areas included the Blue Grass Army Depot and Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Madison County, and Clay WMA in Nicholas County, KY.

Suitable nocturnal habitat availability, not hunting mortality, is suspected to play the largest role in survivability of woodcock on wintering grounds. Nocturnal habitat selection of the woodcock on the wintering grounds was examined using four popular land management techniques: mowing, burning, disking, and mow/burn combination. -Author

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources published guides to many threatened animals living in the state. This guide gives information about the American woodcock, including description, status, habitat, conservation challenges & recommendations, and measures of success.