Woodcock are secretive woodland birds famous for their crepuscular 'roding' display flights. Their welfare involves habitat quality in breeding woodland and the welfare of migrants shot during winter visits to the UK.
Woodcock welfare involves two distinct populations with different welfare concerns. UK breeding woodcock welfare depends on woodland habitat quality: wet, structurally diverse woodland with soft soils that allow earthworm foraging. Drainage of woodland and soil compaction from livestock reduce prey availability and breeding success. Migratory woodcock welfare raises the additional concern of shooting: birds that have completed a demanding autumn migration are hunted on arrival in the UK. The welfare of shot birds depends on shooting proficiency; woodcock are considered among the most difficult quarry to shoot cleanly, meaning a higher proportion of shots may result in wounded birds that are not recovered. The declining trend in breeding woodcock populations across Europe has led some conservation organisations to call for shooting moratoriums on breeding birds while maintaining the traditional winter migrant shoot.