Distinguishing Grouse and Woodcock
My dad and I will be going after grouse next month in Virginia and then the first week of January in East Tennessee. In both states, grouse and woodcock season will not overlap when we're hunting; my understanding is both birds' range and habitat overlaps substantially.
As this will be my first time hunting grouse, I'm concerned about not being able to tell the difference between the two species when the birds flush---assuming we're fortunate enough to get a flush. What are these game agencies thinking? Will the woodcock all have migrated by then?
If not, how obvious is it to tell the difference between them when they've flushed? Specifically, are there any tell-tale signs about how they flush that can help me determine if the bird's legal? I've read that woodcock make a whistling sound, but I do not know whether they always do or not.