Body length: 30-35 cm
Body mass: 150-400 g
Apearance: brown with ”dead-leaf” pattern of paler and darker patches, with reddish-brown rump and upper tail. Long, straight bill.
Widespread, though not common, and secretive inhabitant of mixed/coniferous and broadleaved forests, especially where watercourses, lakes and marshes also present. Bird of cryptic colouration, and nest also very well camouflaged in areas of scrub. Male is polygamous, female monogamous. Main food is earthworms (even half a kilo per day), taken by probing ground with highly-sensitive bill. Most active at dawn and dusk. Eyes positioned in such a way that bird can see both forwards and backwards. A gamebird.
Our population winters in Caspian/Black Sea and Mediterranean Basins, as well as south-east Asia.
Descriptions drawing on content of Ptaki Polski (“Birds of Poland”) - a book authored by Andrzej G. Kruszewicz, and published by MULTICO Oficyna Wydawnicza Sp. z o.o.