ID help, California (From Irvine to Morro Bay), about three weeks ago - part 2. (1 Viewer)

[ignicapilla]

Previous post, part 2

 

[qwerty5]

2. Savannah Sparrow
3. Dowitchers, maybe Long-billed (?)
4-5. Dowitchers and peeps, several are Least

 

[AveryBartels]

1. Dark mantled gull = Western
2. Savannah Sparrow
3. Middle and back look like Short-billed Dowitchers to me per the pronounced markings on tertials
4-5. most/all peeps seem like Least

 

[qwerty5]

Middle and back look like Short-billed Dowitchers to me per the pronounced markings on tertials

Correct, somehow I forgot the best field mark for dowitchers...

 

[ignicapilla]

Thanks!

 

[Michael Long]

1. California Gulls, Western Gull
2. Savannah Sparrow
3. middle and back Short-billed Dowitcher, front Long-billed Dowitcher
4. Least Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitcher
5. Least Sandpipers

 

[AlexC]

1. California Gulls, Western Gull
2. Savannah Sparrow
3. middle and back Short-billed Dowitcher, front Long-billed Dowitcher
4. Least Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitcher
5. Least Sandpipers

Agree on all except the dowitchers, since Short-billed are more uncommon through this stretch of CA. What are you seeing that indicates Short-billed over the more common Long-billed?

 

[Michael Long]

Agree on all except the dowitchers, since Short-billed are more uncommon through this stretch of CA. What are you seeing that indicates Short-billed over the more common Long-billed?

Tertial markings as previously mentioned by AveryBartels, the bird in 4. Im not completely sure of

 

[Indobirder]

Doesn't teritial markings on dowitcher only matter on Juveniles?

 

[Michael Long]

Doesn't teritial markings on dowitcher only matter on Juveniles?

These are juveniles no?

 

[tom baxter]

Doesn't teritial markings on dowitcher only matter on Juveniles?

These are juveniles and they are Short billed. Photo that pictures 3 individuals are all Short billed. The head and bill shape is diagnostic on the bird in the back. It has a steep forehead ie. Loral angle, and a shorter thicker bill that is ever so slightly kinked beginning about 2/3 of the way to the tip. It is bluntly tipped and thicker billed than a Long billed Dowitcher. The very subtle specific shape of the bill of the bird in the back is diagnostic of Short-billed but beware, the evident profile seen here is not always clear to see on a Short billed. You will see Short billed that appear to have perfectly straight thin bills sometimes, but you will never see a Long billed that has this exact bill profile, ie. the combination of features including the kink, shortness and thickness and blunt tipped. Their bills are quite flexible and can shape shift but it seems that Long billed can’t really make their bills look stout and blunt tipped like this nor can they do the exact same kink 2/3 of the way to the tip, whereas Short billed certainly can make their bills look straight sometimes. Additionally, and the less subjective feature here, is that the tertials are somewhat visible and diagnostic on the middle and read bird, although obscured a bit by grain and feather overlap.