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Platte River Status: A locally rare migrant and nesting species, probably more common and widespread than our records indicate. Occurrence dates from Hall and Merrick Counties are 3 March to 6 July. Tout (1947) recorded American woodcock in Lincoln County on 23 October 1928.

Breeding Range: Apparently restricted to the Platte River Valley physiographic region, primarily in the eastern third of the study area.

Breeding Population: Because of the patchy distribution and very low numbers of American woodcock, we failed to record this species on our random census plots in 1979-1980.

Habitat: Lingle observed adult American woodcock conducting courtship displays in small openings near stands of cottonwood, dogwood, and false indigo. Nests were usually found within 100 m of the openings used for courtship display. Faanes and Andrew (1983) reported American woodcock from young bur oak forest in northeastern North Dakota.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Wooded vegetation encroachment along major water courses has provided an abundance of habitat suitable for nesting. A gradual westward expansion of this species along large streams is occurring as a result of vegetation encroachment (Lingle 1981).

Nesting Data: Lingle (1981) reported 3 recently fledged chicks from a Merrick County site on 6 July 1978. Courtship activity was observed in that area from 12 to 24 April 1979. One American woodcock was observed in Lincoln County on 16 May 1936 (Nebr. Bird Rev. 4:55-66, 1936). Lemburg (1979) reported an adult with young along the Platte River near Chapman Merrick County in 1978. Adults were observed engaged in courtship flights at the site the following year.