Whatbird.com

This was taken in Fairbanks, AK on May 20, 2009 ...

 

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Rudi.
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Speak softly and carry a big lens!
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See my bird photos on Flickr

It's a Dowitcher, and although it looks comparitively Short-billed, their range doesn't normally extend as far north as Fairbanks, although some migrating individuals can overshoot. Long-billed Dowitchers on the other hand do migrate as far north as the north slope, so in May this one could have been passing through on its way there. Edit: the bills can vary in length.

I thought it might be, but my Sibley's does not show it's range extending much north of the Pacific coast of Alaska.  This was taken in the interior near Fairbanks.

EDIT: I could have sworn you said this was a Short-Biled Dowitcher.  Anyone else have input on this bird?

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Rudi.
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Speak softly and carry a big lens!
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See my bird photos on Flickr

Any other takers?

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Rudi.
---
Speak softly and carry a big lens!
---
See my bird photos on Flickr

There's a picture in Sibley's of a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher that matches the plumage on this bird very well.

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Total birds seen: 217
Latest lifers:
Wilson's Snipe, Barred Owl, Eastern Meadowlark
Favorite lifers:
Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork
Go Birds Go! Blog

Kryptos18:

There's a picture in Sibley's of a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher that matches the plumage on this bird very well.

With all the white highlights, this would seem to be an adult. May would be the wrong time of year for juveniles anyway, wouldn't it?

Too right it would be, shows what I get for ignoring the time of year!

If it helps, the Cornell website says that Long-billed Dowitchers are much more likely to be seen near fresh water, which anywhere near Fairbanks would have to be, right? Perhaps this individual is molting into his breeding plumage? It doesn't seem quite red enough for a full-blown breeding adult.

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Total birds seen: 217
Latest lifers:
Wilson's Snipe, Barred Owl, Eastern Meadowlark
Favorite lifers:
Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork
Go Birds Go! Blog