Bird Breastbones

Common Name: American Woodcock breastbones
Scientific Name: Scolopax minor
Protected Status: U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Laboratory Section: Morphology
What’s the Story? Woodcock are game birds and can be legally hunted in the Eastern U.S. However, commercial sale of their meat, as for all wild game, is illegal. All the breastbones shown were part of a case involving such sales of woodcock meat.

NOTICES:

These photos change frequently. Check back for more mystery photos.
These photos should not be used for identification purposes. Detailed information to assist with selected species identification problems can be found at Publications and Identifications Guides.
For more information about Protected Status, view our U.S. Wildlife Laws page.
You may download these photos for educational purposes with credit to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), but cannot use them for commercial purposes or sell them.