ChristineTX Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 I observed this single dowitcher today, August 12, 2021 in Fort Worth, TX. My sister and I are new birders, and we can't decide if this is a long-billed or a short-billed. We didn't hear it call, and it was far away, so I know that these pictures may not confirm an ID. Please help! I want to learn so that I can get better at these! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 (edited) This bird looks like a Long-billed, but adult Dowitchers (especially in the Great Plains) are nearly impossible to Identify this time of year unless heard. Edited August 12, 2021 by Seanbirds 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 21 minutes ago, Seanbirds said: This bird looks like a Long-billed, but adult Dowitchers (especially in the Great Plains) are nearly impossible to Identify this time of year unless heard. Agree with Long-billed Dowitcher. Barred sides of breast with a very long bill. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 You'll get better at dowitcher ID as time goes on and you get the gist of shape and minor details in appearance. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 I lean Long-billed 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 15 hours ago, Peromyscus said: I lean Long-billed Same. Look at that bill! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 I also think Long-billed but probably safer to say “Dowitcher sp”; I think Long-billed is a reasonably safe call here though 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 20 hours ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: You'll get better at dowitcher ID as time goes on and you get the gist of shape and minor details in appearance. I think people get better at dowitcher ID as they realize that shape and visual appearance is only one part of the ID puzzle, and that in some cases a visual ID is not possible. But by paying attention to other pieces of the puzzle (habitat, location, migration timing, VOCALIZATIONS, etc) you can often arrive at an ID even when a visual ID is not possible. It’s also worth noting that visual ID is fairly easy with juveniles and fresh alternate plumage adults. The bird in the picture above is a worn alternate plumage Dowitcher. This is one of the more difficult plumages to reliably separate visually. It still looks overall more like a Long-billed to me and that’s probably more likely at an inland location, but it never hurts to be cautious and use the “Dowitcher sp” option when dealing with nonvocal adult dowitchers in worn alternate or basic plumage 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 1 hour ago, AlexHenry said: I think people get better at dowitcher ID as they realize that shape and visual appearance is only one part of the ID puzzle, and that in some cases a visual ID is not possible. But by paying attention to other pieces of the puzzle (habitat, location, migration timing, VOCALIZATIONS, etc) you can often arrive at an ID even when a visual ID is not possible. It’s also worth noting that visual ID is fairly easy with juveniles and fresh alternate plumage adults. The bird in the picture above is a worn alternate plumage Dowitcher. This is one of the more difficult plumages to reliably separate visually. It still looks overall more like a Long-billed to me and that’s probably more likely at an inland location, but it never hurts to be cautious and use the “Dowitcher sp” option when dealing with nonvocal adult dowitchers in worn alternate or basic plumage Yes, I agree. It seems like you put a lot of emphasis on dowitcher calls, which I understand, but shape can also be useful as part of the identification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 1 minute ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: but shape can also be useful as part of the identification. It’s not always reliable, though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 17 minutes ago, Seanbirds said: It’s not always reliable, though. True, which is why it's only part of it, along with markings and vocalization. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 8 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: True, which is why it's only part of it, along with markings and vocalization. And habitat, location, migration timing - for example, a Dowitcher in Kansas or Colorado in late October or November is almost 100% certainly a Long-billed, whereas an early fall migrant (early meaning late June to early July) adult Dowitcher on saltwater coastal mudflats is almost certainly a Short-billed. The Hendersoni subspecies of Short-billed migrates through the middle of the continent and that can make things tough. In general, Short-billed are earlier migrants though, and Long-billed are vastly more likely to winter inland 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Just now, AlexHenry said: And habitat, location, migration timing - for example, a Dowitcher in Kansas or Colorado in late October or November is almost 100% certainly a Long-billed, whereas an early fall migrant (early meaning late June to early July) adult Dowitcher on saltwater coastal mudflats is almost certainly a Short-billed. The Hendersoni subspecies of Short-billed migrates through the middle of the continent and that can make things tough. In general, Short-billed are earlier migrants though, and Long-billed are vastly more likely to winter inland Yes, definitely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inastrangeland Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Pretty confident with Long-Billed. Note the feathers have broad buffy edges that don’t extend all the way up to the top. Short-billeds have narrow buffy edges that extend the entire length of the feather. Thats how I differentiate the two anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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