Description
Adults are 33–38 centimetres (13–15 in) in length, including the 6–8 centimetres (2.4–3.1 in) long straight bill, and have a 55–65 centimetres (22–26 in) wingspan. The Eurasian Woodcock has cryptic camouflage to suit its woodland habitat, with intricately patterned reddish-brown upperparts and buff underparts. The head is barred with black, not striped like that of its close relatives, the snipe. It has large eyes located high on the sides of its head, giving it 360-degree monocular vision.
The wings are rounded and the base of the bill is flesh-coloured with a dark tip. The legs vary from grey to pinkish. The species is sexually dimorphic, with the male much larger than the female, although the sexes cannot be separated in the field.
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