- Lifespan
- 8–12 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 32–35 cm, wingspan 55–65 cm; 240–340 g
- Habitat
- Damp woodlands with dense understorey, alder carr, wet heathland, and mixed deciduous and coniferous forests with soft ground for feeding.
- UK Distribution
- Resident throughout the UK, with populations bolstered by continental migrants arriving in autumn from September onwards, particularly across Wales, Scotland, and northern England.
- Diet
- Probes soft ground and leaf litter for earthworms, insect larvae (particularly Diptera and Coleoptera), and other invertebrates; occasionally takes seeds.
- Prey
- Earthworms, crane fly larvae (leatherjackets), beetle larvae, small invertebrates
- Predators
- Foxes, stoats, weasels, sparrowhawks, tawny owls, and goshawks; eggs and chicks vulnerable to corvids and other nest predators.
- Mating Season
- March to June
- Breeding
- Single clutch of 3–4 well-camouflaged eggs laid in a ground scrape; incubation period 19–24 days; chicks fledge at approximately 15–20 days but remain dependent on parents for 2–3 weeks.
- Behaviour
- Crepuscular and nocturnal, remaining hidden in dense cover during the day. Males perform a spectacular roding display flight at dusk and dawn during breeding season, flying slowly with distinctive nasal calls over woodland. Highly cryptic plumage provides excellent camouflage.