OH, THOSE DAUNTING DOWITCHERS

Short-billed Dowitcher - photo courtesy Sharon Milligan

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    Both species (same genus) of dowitchers (Short and Long-Billed) are abundant during migration (spring migrants seen as late as mid-June and returning fall migrants as early as late July). The Long-billed is uncommon to rare throughout the winter months (except in some favored locations, e.g. Seaman Rd Lagoon). The Short-billed is common during winter.

    Those birders who aspire to proficiency must eventually face head-on the challenge of identifying dowitchers. While they are coming through in big numbers, it is a good time to review or begin to hone one's skills. Seriously, bill length is of little help.

   Keep in mind that at this time of year the adults still might show some of the orange (Short-billed) or brick red (Long-billed) breeding plumage. It helps to know that here in coastal Mississippi the Short-billed is likely to be the Hendersoni subspecies. Also note that the Long-Billed Dowitcher has broader tail bands, resulting in an overall darker tail, and the dark cluster of spotting that is forward of the carpal joint.

    When we find these two species, it's usually at a distance. And we often rely on shortcuts. Field guides stress that identification by voice is most reliable, especially of dowitchers in non-breeding plumage.

    The Long-billed has a sharp, high-pitched "keek" that may be given singly or in a series. The Short-billed has a softer "tu-tu-tu" repeated in rapid series. Habitat preferences might help. Long-billed is associated with fresh water, Short-billed with salt water, but they overlap in brackish environments.

    But seriously,  field guides such as National Geographic or Sibley’s do a bang-up job on the dowitchers, and there are countless other fine-point identification articles on the two species on line, so give it a try. Look particularly for information on shape and posture.

    One of the true experts on shorebird identification, (the late) Claudia Wilds, would remain in one place for hours, examining dowitcher plumages, bird by bird. Her skills were so legendary that author Kenn Kaufman asked her to write the dowitcher section in "Advanced Birding", which I highly recommend.

This article was published in August 2005