4 replies to this topic

[notactuallytom]

So I think I saw both a long-billed dowitcher and a short-billed dowitcher today but I'm having trouble being 100% sure. Here are the photos. I think the first picture is of a short-billed dowitcher and the other two are of a long-billed dowitcher. Seen in Charleston Slough in California.

[Liam]

Going off Sibley's, at least 2 is a Long-billed Dowitcher, probably 3 as well.

[MarkBird]

Here's the best dowitcher article money can buy: http://www.surfbirds...dowitchers.html

Can you offer bigger pictures or different angles? I'm inclined to agree with Liam's Long-billed for #2. The rear bird in #3 may be Short-billed (based on bill curve, mostly). I lean towards Long-billeds for the others.

[JimBob]

Agree with mark.

[notactuallytom]

Okay, here are three more pictures, one of the same pair, two of the same bird as in the first picture.

http://i46.tinypic.com/s338th.png
http://i46.tinypic.com/141jm9z.png
http://i49.tinypic.com/2ztis2d.png

I'm quite certain the more rufous colored one is a long-billed, and I think, looking at the location of the eye on the face and the slight drooping of the bill, that the first picture is of a short-billed dowitcher. Here is a side by side comparison of the two birds:

http://i49.tinypic.com/29kumoo.png
http://i46.tinypic.com/2mzfbqc.png