From Opus

Limnodromus semipalmatus

Photo by Romy Ocon
Olango Island, Cebu Province, Philippines, October 2004

[edit] Identification

Black and white barred pattern on tail, dark legs and a long straight dark bill with a slightly bulbous tip.
Breeding: Brown upperparts, reddish underneath.
The winter plumage is largely grey.

[edit] Similar Species

Asian Dowitchers look very similar to the Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits which they tend to form flocks with. The dowitcher is slightly smaller and the bill is diagnostic, being perfectly straight with a slight bulb at the tip, as opposed to the tapering bill of the godwit (and the slightly curved bill of the bar-tailed godwit). The dowitcher bill also does not have any traces of pink, wheras godwit bills (especially bar-tailed godwit) often do.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in Siberia and Manchuria; winters to southern Asia and northern Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Grassy wetlands and coasts during migration and wintering.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

These birds forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud. The diet includes insects, molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms, and some plant material.

[edit] Breeding

It breeds in small colonies. Eggs are usually laid between late-May and early-June. The nest is a shallow depression on bare ground or in vegetation.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Wikipedia
3. BirdLife International

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID
• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages