Long-billed Dowitcher

Breeding Plumage
Photo © by Neil
Palo Alto, California, May 2006

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Identification

Non-breeding
Photo © by postcardcv
Hayle, Cornwall, UK, February 2006

24–30 cm (9½-11¾ in)

• Yellowish-green legs
• Long straight dark bill, slightly distally de-curved
• Tail has a black and white barred pattern
• Prominent supercilium
• Noticeable white trailing edge to wing
  

Breeding

• Dark brown upperparts
• Orangy-red underparts
• Spotted throat and breast
• Barred flanks

Winter

• Mostly grey
• White lower belly

Similar species

In non-breeding plumage very similar to Short-billed Dowitcher

Distribution

Photo © by Stanley Jones
Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA, April 2017

Breeds in Siberia and Alaska; winters from southern U.S. to Panama.

Regular vagrant to Europe, particularly Britain and Ireland.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Although preferring fresh water habitats, they can also be seen in estuaries, mud flats, saltwater wetlands, reservoirs, and sewer ponds.

Behaviour

Breeding

They nest on the ground, usually near water.

Diet

Diet mainly consists of small crustaceans, molluscs, insects and marine worms, but includes some plant material as well. They forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Long-billed Dowitcher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Long-billed_Dowitcher

External Links

Search for photos of Long-billed Dowitcher in the gallery