Antshrike's Bird Blog: Long-billed or Short-billed Dowitchers? 7/28/11

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Long-billed or Short-billed Dowitchers? 7/28/11

After I posted on Texbirds that I had three dowitchers that I wasn't too sure about at the Sugar House Pond, I received an email from Justin Bosler stating that because of the date these might be Short-billed as they migrate earlier than Long-billed. I'm leaning towards Long-billed because of the feather edgings on the back but I may be misinterpreting this character. There were four of these birds were at the Sugar House Pond today.

I also photographed these three today at the Bucy Road Pond near Hargill. I also think they are Long-billed.

1 comment:

Jochen said...: This will not help you much, but I find Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers have a very different facial expression, a different "feel" when you look at their head/eyes/profile. Following this "soft character", this approach by intuition, I lean towards Short-billeds.; August 2, 2011 at 9:54 AM

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Listers, Come out of the closet!

I have a problem. I am a lister. There. I said it. I'm not ashamed of it. There's lots of birders out there who look down their noses at listers. But I bet they have lists too. They list in the privacy of their homes. Maybe behind the locked door of the bathroom. Come on listers. Come out of the closet (or the bathroom)! Oh I know what they say about listing. You go blind or hair grows on the palms of your hands. But it's not true. In fact listing is good for you. So make your lists and don't feel guilty about it.