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Woodcock charge deer to defend nests, footage reveals

Astrobitica July 1, 2026 (Last updated: July 1, 2026) 1 minute read

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American woodcock are typically known for their bobbing stride and nasally “peent” calls, not for aggression. However, one April afternoon, a woodcock hen lunged at a deer that approached her ground nest, successfully scaring it away.

American woodcock, short, plump shorebirds with long, thin beaks, are widely known for their bobbing stride and nasally “peent” calls, but not for being aggressive. Yet one April afternoon, when a deer sniffed around a woodcock hen’s ground nest looking for food, the hen lunged at it, scaring it away.