South East Florida, US - August (L or S) Dowitcher (1 Viewer)

[raulqc]

Another one from my recent trip to Florida east coast. I believe is a Dowitcher, but not sure if a Long or Short, and how to tell them apart.

Thanks in advance for the help, Raul

 

[The Bug]

long billed - no markings in the centre of the tertials

 

[snowcap]

Hi, this bird has moulted most of its tertials!! Its a moulting adult so the tertial pattern is not really relevant to its ID. I would say that this is a Short-billed Dowitcher.

 

[eaglethatsoars2]

I'd second that as a Short-billed Dow, if you look at the flanks it has remnants of round spots, Long-billed has barred crescents.

 

[jmepler]

I agree with Short-billed. The bill length is at the upper range for Short-billed but the shape of the base of the bill looks right.

There is more information on Dowitcher ID than you could possibly want here and here

Mike

 

[jmorlan]

Yes, it's an adult molting from alternate to basic plumage. The basic feathers don't tell us much, so we need to look at the alternate feathers, or what's left of them. This bird has a salmon color to the underparts extending all the way to the belly and undertail coverts. So I think it's either a Long-billed or the L. g. hendersoni race of Short-billed. However hendersoni does not normally molt out of breeding plumage this early. My understanding is that hendersoni should still be in full alternate plumage right now. So based on that I would be leaning towards Long-billed.

Also there are differences in structure which can help. I'm not sure how reliable these difference are, but Short-billed tends to have a flatter back while Long-billed is much rounder. Some say it looks like it swallowed a grapefruit. This bird seems pretty plump and the back seems pretty rounded.

Also let's look at the barring on the tail feathers. Now those may be coverts, but still it appears to me that the dark bars are broader than the paler cinnamon bars. That's another point in favor of Long-billed.

Just thought I'd bring in some additional evidence to be pondered and considered. I'll leave a final decision to others.

 

[raulqc]

Thanks to all.
I was not aware how hard is to tell this species apart. With the information provided above, the surfbirds link, and some additional pics I took that day, plus taking a look at the original in full resolution, I also believe is a short-billed.

Thanks again, Raul

 

[merryslug]

* jumps on coattails *

...so would that make these long-billed?

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

I admit that looking at the tail I would call it a Long-billed as the pale bars I think are too narrow for a Short-billed. However, other plumage features suggest Short-billed so I am glad it isn't over here as that would cause some fun.

 

[merryslug]

I was calling them Long-billed, but now that I have this wonderful forum I'd love opinions

 

[jmepler]

The best way to tell them apart is by there call, but we don't have that option here.

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

I was calling them Long-billed, but now that I have this wonderful forum I'd love opinions

Looking at one or two at the back in the water the bill length really does look right for Long-billed. Hopefully more people from North America can say something as I don't see them very often.

 

[rjackb]

Looking at one or two at the back in the water the bill length really does look right for Long-billed. Hopefully more people from North America can say something as I don't see them very often.

I do see them occasionally at certain locations and even though they are called "short-billed", Short-billed Dowitchers actually have quite long bills. I will attach an example.

 

[jmorlan]

Why do you think that's a Short-billed?

 

[Grousemore]

Why do you think that's a Short-billed?

Good question...

 

[merryslug]

The (admittedly limited) research I've done said that Long-billed can have shorter bills on occasion but it is rarer that a Short-billed would have a long bill. Wow that was confusing just to write. |:S|

I'm still leaning towards Long-billed.

 

[Ronayne88]

Hi all,

Although not a method to come up with a conclusive id whatsoever; habitat is usually a good hint to separating the two species, although not a rule of course. But generally long-billed prefer more inland freshwater habitats, whereas short-billed are more of a coastal bird (in my experience). Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong. Perhaps the differences in average bill length of both species are adapted to feed in different habitats for both species?

Seán

 

[Ronayne88]

And I agree, short billed can indeed appear quite long-billed. In florida last summer (starting out) I lazily called one dowitcher as a long-billed based on billl length alone, only to be corrected by a well known birder (who knows the site like the back of his hand and also has years of experience with dowitchers and most species in general) who told me that there have only been 1-2 records of long-billed at this coastal site (Fort DeSoto).

See pic here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30446442@N05/3928962712/in/set-72157622271121497/

 

[merryslug]

Hi all,

Although not a method to come up with a conclusive id whatsoever; habitat is usually a good hint to separating the two species, although not a rule of course. But generally long-billed prefer more inland freshwater habitats, whereas short-billed are more of a coastal bird (in my experience). Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong. Perhaps the differences in average bill length of both species are adapted to feed in different habitats for both species?

Seán

This would support the Long-billed theory. The picture was taken on Lake Okeechobee FL

 

[rjackb]

Why do you think that's a Short-billed?

I think it is a short-billed because one of the experts on this forum (Alex) identified it as such.