Whatbird.com

Los Banos CA flooded ag field 3-19-09. Are these Long-billed Dowitchers, Dunlins or what?

Same group different lighting

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"Watch the birdie."
Latest: Sage Thrasher, Ferruginous Hawk (Dark Morph).

The one shot of the bird showing its bill pretty much confirmed it for me.  I thought that I could definitely say a Long-Billed Dowitcher due to the size of the bill, but the coloration of the bird matches more of a winter plumage Short-billed Dowitcher.  So, it is a Short, then I would hate to imagine how long the bill is on a Long.

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http://whatbird.com/forums/photos/birdman/

Jim Penny:

The one shot of the bird showing its bill pretty much confirmed it for me.  I thought that I could definitely say a Long-Billed Dowitcher due to the size of the bill, but the coloration of the bird matches more of a winter plumage Short-billed Dowitcher.  So, it is a Short, then I would hate to imagine how long the bill is on a Long.

Short-billed aren't residents of Central CA so I'll rule that out. I looked in Sibley's, Peterson's and on the Cornell website and the field marks match the ones in the photo for a Long-billed Dowitcher except for the one bird displaying yellow legs from the rear shot. I can see most have grayish- black legs, so maybe the one I can see is a juvenile not a Dunlin.

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"Watch the birdie."
Latest: Sage Thrasher, Ferruginous Hawk (Dark Morph).

Not Dunlins, too much white on their bellies even for winter plumage.  Look good for Long-billed to me.

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Ken Stenek
Shishmaref, Alaska

Check out Birds of Shishmaref site at:
http://shishmaref.bssd.org/birdsofshishmaref/

Jim Penny:

The one shot of the bird showing its bill pretty much confirmed it for me.  I thought that I could definitely say a Long-Billed Dowitcher due to the size of the bill, but the coloration of the bird matches more of a winter plumage Short-billed Dowitcher.  So, it is a Short, then I would hate to imagine how long the bill is on a Long.

 

By the way, I meant to say "So, if it is a Short" and not "So, it is a Short".

The ID of a Long-bill does make me feel better since I had at first thought that was what it was, before questioning myself about the plumage.  

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http://whatbird.com/forums/photos/birdman/

Thanks all. I'll label them LB Dowitchers. FYI did you know there's a new link to online Sibley's? http://sibley.enature.com/home.asp

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"Watch the birdie."
Latest: Sage Thrasher, Ferruginous Hawk (Dark Morph).