bird ID?

[canesisters]

There were 3 of these along the edge of my drive yesterday. They are a good bit bigger than a robin. They just sat there as I pulled up RIGHT beside them, rolled down the window & took a couple of pictures and pulled off again. Their weird long beaks are different from anything I normally see around my place. There is a very small creek just a few yards away from where they were which might be important since they look like birds that would normally be found near water. But it IS a very small creek..
Any ideas???

 

[so lucky]

DH says woodcock

 

[Ridgerunner]

Debbie, check out snipe. I'm not sending you n a snipe hunt, they are real birds.

 

[canesisters]

http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-snipe-and-vs-woodcock/

http://www.stepbystep.com/difference-between-snipe-and-woodcock-97878/

They are SO similar!! But I think - based on the lack of any real body of water nearby and that it didn't flush or make any sound - that it was woodcock. How cool!!!

 

[digitS']

I have an idea and that is to agree with @so lucky 's DH.

I don't know if I have ever seen a Woodcock, however. Their range doesn't extend to this part of the continent.

Wilson's Snipe is what I'm familiar with. They were my first thought and I don't believe Ridge' was sending us on any snipe hunt . But, you can see the difference in the markings of both (Similar Species) here: All About Birds

Steve
Oh! You posted a moment before .

 

[ducks4you]

I am betting that it was a woodcock because of where you live. Wading birds have similar bills but longer and more slender legs, and usually inhabit salt marshes. I gather you live further inland, and have woods and probably streams.