What feeding behavior is unique to woodcocks?

Woodcocks exhibit a unique feeding behavior where they probe the ground for food, primarily by using their long, flexible bills. This specialized foraging technique allows them to reach into soft soil to extract earthworms and other invertebrates that make up a significant part of their diet. Their ability to taste and feel with their bills helps them locate food hidden under the ground surface. This probing behavior is distinct and particularly associated with woodcocks, setting them apart from many other birds, which may employ different foraging methods, such as surface gleaning or hunting for prey in trees or bushes.

Hunting during daylight hours is not characteristic of woodcocks, as they are primarily crepuscular, being most active during twilight hours. Foraging in water is also not unique to them; many bird species have adapted to aquatic feeding. Finally, woodcocks do not typically hunt in packs; they are solitary foragers, which further emphasizes the distinctiveness of their ground probing behavior.