Long-billed Dowitcher vs Short-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Medium104 gWetland

The long-billed dowitcher is a medium-sized, stocky sandpiper with a bill about twice the length of its head. In all plumages, the long-billed dowitcher has a whitish supercilium and dark loral stripe that continuous past the eye. The tail is barred black and white with the black being almost twice the width of the white and a large distinctive white rump which extends up to the middle of its back. Long-billed dowitcher are in breeding plumage from approximately May to late August or early September. Voice: The long-billed dowitcher's main call, mostly heard in flight but also while on ground, is a high, sharp keek sometimes repeated as an accelerating quick double or triple note series. Its second, less common call is a tu given 1-8 times. Its song is described as pee-witch-er, and its alarm call is an explosive KEEK.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA · CC BY 2.0

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Medium111 gWetland

Adults' bodies are dark brown on top and reddish underneath. The tail has a black-and-white barred pattern, and the legs are yellowish. The three subspecies have slight variations in appearance: Limnodromus griseus griseus has a white belly and barred flanks. Limnodromus griseus hendersoni has a reddish belly and spotted flanks. Limnodromus griseus caurinus has a white belly, heavily barred flanks, and a densely spotted breast. None of these combines the reddish belly and barred flanks of the breeding plumage of the long-billed dowitcher. The winter plumage is largely grey.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: TRinaud · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Long-billed Dowitcher and Short-billed Dowitcher.