smittyone@cox.net Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Seen yesterday at Loess Bluffs NWR in NW Missouri. I have a few shots of them next to an American Avocet, if that'd help with size comparison. I don't think I ever saw them fly, but they never strayed more than a foot apart. My immediate thought was Wilson's Snipe, but now I'm leaning towards Long-billed Dowitcher. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smittyone@cox.net Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 Adding one more pic. In lieu of any flight shots, I hope this yoga stretch may help with wing plumage? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 These look better for Short-billed Dowitchers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smittyone@cox.net Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 18 minutes ago, akandula said: These look better for Short-billed Dowitchers. Wouldn't short-billed have more orange tones on the breast and flanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 (edited) Agree with Short-billed Dowitchers. I love the pictures! Sort-billed Dowitchers sides are barred, not spotted like Long-billed Dowitcher, otherwise extremely similar to Long-billed in all plumages, especially winter when both species are plain gray. Long-billed tends to favor freshwater habitats, but much overlap. Most obvious difference is voice; Short-billed gives rapid series of notes "tu-tu-tu" unlike single piercing "keek!" of Long-billed. Edited March 26, 2020 by Jefferson Shank 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smittyone@cox.net Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 Thank you folks. In either case, any Dowitcher is a new Lifer bird for me! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 7 hours ago, smittyone@cox.net said: Wouldn't short-billed have more orange tones on the breast and flanks? I don't think that feature applies to nonbreeding adults. I based my ID on the barred underwing lesser coverts, but I could be wrong. @akiley could give you a more definite answer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 I don't think that feature applies to nonbreeding adults. I based my ID on the barred underwing lesser coverts, but I could be wrong. That is what I would have said too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 21 hours ago, akandula said: I don't think that feature applies to nonbreeding adults. I based my ID on the barred underwing lesser coverts, but I could be wrong. @akiley could give you a more definite answer. Any feature involving orange/red color definitely isn't relevant for basic plumaged birds. I would agree with SB for the reasons you mentioned on the open wing and also, these birds seems fairly slim in shape. I don't get a LB impression from either bird. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 That photo with the bird stretching gives a good look at the tail, the white bars are about as wide as the black bars which is good for Short-billed (with Long-billed the black bars are broader and the white bars narrower). Also notice the folded wing on the stretching bird - looks like fair amount of primary projection beyond the tertials, also looks good for Short-billed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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