9 replies to this topic

[Grandpa577]

Taken today on Jones Beach Jetty in company of 500+ Dunlin, 30+ Sanderling and a few Black-bellied Plover. I believe the breeding plumage that is beginning to show (in tertials or coverts) is typical of the Short-billed Dowitcher.

Dowitcher_1988m by Grandpa577, on Flickr

[Grandpa577]

I've rethought this. I believe this is a first winter bird and the tertials which are showing with the 'tiger' pattern are juvenile feathers. Any thoughts?

[mtdavid]

I know Liam posted a very in-depth article on Dowitcher ID a while back, maybe he could link to that again? I don't remember enough to comment on this one.

[Liam]

Here ya go.

http://www.surfbirds...dowitchers.html

[jetmedix]

Not confident enough with my ID skills to call this one, but here is a link to the article that Liam posted.

http://www.surfbirds...dowitchers.html

EDIT:I see Liam beat me to it already.

[mtdavid]

Thanks guys, I saved it this time, maybe I'll get all the way through it now...

[Grandpa577]

The best field mark for separating the juvenile plumages is the appearance of the tertials. In the Short-billed they have internal orange stripes while in the Long-billed they have a thin brown fringe with no internal markings. - http://www.mbr-pwrc....st/i2310id.html (USGS). My thoughts are that the juvenile tertials are what we can see on this bird and the pattern visible is unique to Short-billed Dowitchers. You can see the picture of a juvenile SBDO at Cornell by Kevin Karlson and compare the tertials to the Long Billed Dowitcher juvenile by Brian Small. The long-billed has not patterning on the tertials. Yes?

[Kryptos18]

Seeing as Short-billeds are more likely on the coast, and this has a pretty short bill, I'd feel fine calling this a Short-billed Dowitcher.

[Grandpa577]

Thanks, Kryptos.

[MWM]

As was mentioned on my Long-billed Dowitcher, which have a humped back, this one appears very flat - leaning towards Short-billed Dowitcher, either way, great pic!