As we were about to pull into a parking space at our apartment complex this evening, my wife spied a small huddled lump near the center of the space she was aiming for. We paused as the headlights illuminated the brown critter, a funny-looking bird that seemed to be shivering in the cold breeze. I recognized* the features of its head, folded against its body as a woodcock (long pointed beak, eye almost enered on the side if its head). Another car passed, and it unfolded its wings, revealing a small, stout body, and then it flew away.
We live in the northwestern part of Austin, Texas. I’m familiar with common local birds, and have never seen a woodcock hereabouts. Was this little guy far from home, or have I not been paying attention?
*although how I knew what it was remains a mystery to me; I’ve never been into birdwatching, or ornithology of any sort…must be some kind of nerd osmosis…
Well, according to my Sibley bird guide, it wouldn’t be that unusual to see an American Woodcock in Austin this time of year. Their range extends about as far west as Austin, although not much further west than that.
Alternately, is it possible that you saw a Common Snipe instead? They’re much more widespread (sez Sibley), and they have much the same body shape.
In either case, though, birds don’t generally hang out in parking lots. Perhaps he was injured.
The Woodcock is one of the earliest spring migrants, and can be in the northern US by late February. This means they probably are leaving the southern part of their wintering range about now. They apparently migrate mostly between nightfall and midnight.
This one may have been en route and stopped for a rest. That would account for it turning up in an unusual habitat like a parking lot. It may have been a little off course, but not by much.