What bird?

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Mostly I hear it in the north but sometimes in central AB. Lots of springs I hear them bear hunting in late may when it’s nearly dark at 11pm. Up in pink mountain one spring they were great to listen to in the late evening.

A high flying bird you can see them cutting wide circles up high nearly out of sight. Wings flap fast and they make a whooooop whooop whooop whoop whoop sound. Then go quiet for a bit and do it again.

[thumper]

You're hearing a 'Wilson's Snipe'. A fairly common bird classified as a 'shore bird' but common wherever there's damp, open ground - often in areas frequented by Ruffed grouse. The sound is formed by males repeatedly flying high, and then quickly spiralling down, forcing air flow around their expanded tail feathers. It's called 'winnowing', and sounds similar to a woo-woo-woo call of an owl. It's a territorial or mate attracting display, most common in the spring (bear season), but often performed throughout the summer. Most snipe migrate south for the winter, but the odd one winters in areas near hot springs/seeps, where they can forage for insects & crustaceans in damp ground throughout the winter months.
In the east, snipe are often called 'Woodcock' and are hunted over dogs. Their fall 'flights' are eagerly anticipated.

[MooseRiverTrapper]

You nailed it thanks.

[HunterDave]

Awesome! I’ve been wondering about this one for years! In fact, I posted a thread on here years ago asking the same question but I never did get the right answer. Good stuff!

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by thumper

In the east, snipe are often called 'Woodcock' and are hunted over dogs. Their fall 'flights' are eagerly anticipated.

Woodcock and snipe are different birds.

[robson3954]

Took me a long time to figure out what bird it was too. I hear them outside my house and they’re darn tough to locate when flying.

[Grizzly Adams]

Sorry, I'm gonna say, Nighthawk .

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/...hawk/overview#

Grizz

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Sorry, I'm gonna say, Nighthawk .

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/...hawk/overview#

Grizz

X2

[stirfry1]

X3

[FCLightning]

I would say Common Nighthawk

[David Henry]

My first guess would have been Night Hawk as well and I think some people call them a "whippoorwill"

[colvert]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

Woodcock and snipe are different birds.

Exactly, furthermore marginal western range of woodcocks is Manitoba.

Wilson's snipe, weight ~120g



winnowing noise commonly heard in the Spring during mating season

Woodcock, weight~200g

great bird to hunt with a dog in wooded areas in Eatern North America

[rhope]

sora rail

[35 whelen]

I'm going with the first guess Wilson snipe you can listen to the Nighthawks call on the video not what I hear at my cabin

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[thumper]

Nighthawks actually call while 'hawking' for insects on the wing- a drawn-out nasal 'neeep'. Very distinctive.


The throbbing, 'winnowing' sound of air cutting through the snipe's tail feathers is almost spooky. Here in Alberta, I've heard them from above treeline, right down to lowland marshes.

And yes, Woodcock and Wilson's snipe are 2 different birds. Thanks for pointing that out.

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Thanks Thumper


https://youtu.be/wv-VU8w4lNI

[HunterDave]

This is the one that I found last night after Thumper's reply.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dam0sDp6Xig

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by colvert

Exactly, furthermore marginal western range of woodcocks is Manitoba.

There are confirmed records of Woodcock in Alberta.

There are likely more Woodcock here than are known to science, simply because we'll typically just incorrectly call it a Snipe.

[Stoshu]

Yep that’s funny. My buddy and I had the same question while spring fishing
on a favourite lake. Couldnt get back to the other guy fast enough to be first and say Wilson’s Snipe after we figured it out.

Now I’ll never forget and you’re making me think of Spring fishing.
Can’t wait!

[colvert]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

There are confirmed records of Woodcock in Alberta.

There are likely more Woodcock here than are known to science, simply because we'll typically just incorrectly call it a Snipe.

Source for that confirmed record?

I know from the CWS that they are in Manitoba which is the edge of their range. I don't think they have ever crossed Saskatchewan...

[rjlester]

I once told my wife many years ago that those were flying monkeys. She took it seriously until I burst out laughing.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by colvert

Source for that confirmed record?

I know from the CWS that they are in Manitoba which is the edge of their range. I don't think they have ever crossed Saskatchewan...

https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/sites/...reportabrc.pdf

https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklis...t=&highlight=0


I've seen other reports of sightings, including another one that was verified, just can't find a link to it right now.

They are here. Likely in quite isolated and low numbers, or maybe not.
I think that we really haven't been paying attention when they are found, cause most people would not know what they just saw and assume it was a snipe.
Other threads here had quite a few people adamant that they know where there are woodcock in Alberta.

[Strix]

There was an American Woodcock reported in Edmonton 32 years earlier than the Redcliffe record. These are the only two records that I am aware of.

https://birdscalgary.com/diversity-of-birds/

I think your chances of encountering one in Alberta are pretty slim.

[thumper]

Sounds like a challenge! Let's all see if we can photograph an Alberta woodcock this year - post up the photos and update the records!