METABOLIC-RATE OF AMERICAN WOODCOCK

We measured metabolic rate of captive-reared American Woodcock (Scolop ax minor) by indirect calorimetry. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) averaged 1.22 +/- 0.18 ml O2 g-1 h-1 (N = 5). Lower critical temperature was 2 2-degrees-C. Below thermoneutrality, the relationship between metaboli c rate (VO2) and ambient temperature (T(a)) was best described by the equation: VO2 = 2.047 - 0.0375(T(a)), (r2 = 0.62, N = 29). Although BM R for American Woodcock was greater than that predicted by some genera lized equations for non-passerines, it did not follow the elevated pat tern for shorebirds predicted by the equation of Kersten and Piersma ( 1987). Lower BMR in American Woodcock may result from lower annual pea ks of energy use compared to other shorebirds.