[NatureNS] Long-billed Dowitcher Identification

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Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:05:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Clarence Stevens <birder_ca@yahoo.com>
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=A0=0A=0A=0A=0ALong-billed Dowitcher Identification =0A=0AHi all, =0A=0AIf =
you have not seen the recent Long-billed Dowitcher photos posted by Rick Wh=
itman on his Smug Mug account I believe they are well worth a look, as they=
 do a great job of demonstrating some of the key field marks for quicker an=
d easier identification of immature Long-billed Dowitchers in particular as=
 well as some helpful hints for picking out Long-billed Dowitchers of all a=
ges. =0A=0AHis photos can be found at =0Ahttp://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nat=
ure/Birds-July-September-2013/30421990_mrvsgG#!i=3D2725216545&k=3DTX59MR4=
=0A=0APhoto Number 1. - Heavily Barred Tail. =0AA more heavily barred tail =
than the Short-billed Dowitcher can be a clue to identification regardless =
of the age or plumage of the Long-billed Dowitcher. This is a field mark th=
at is most easily seen in flight but can also be observed while birds are s=
itting or feeding as demonstrated in photo number 1. =0A=0APhotos 1 and 2. =
=0AOften noting the age of a bird can make proper identification so much ea=
sier. This is particularly true when it come to dowitchers. Due to the vari=
us subspecies of Short-billed, adult dowitchers can be a little trickier to=
 identify than immature plumaged birds which have clearer cut features. Pho=
tos 1 and 2 provide a great back-on look that shows the neatly patterned im=
mature feathers with dark centers and buff fringes. =0A=0APhoto Number 4=0A=
I like this photo as it clearly shows a non identification mark that is eas=
y to miss in the field - the long white strip along the leading edge of the=
 wing. Incidentally although this is not a reliable field mark for separati=
ng species I have found that this feature is often more easily observed in =
the field on Long-billed Dowitchers. =0A=0APhoto Number 6 =0AThis photo pro=
vides a side by side comparison of the feathering on the back and wings (or=
 if you prefer -scapulars and tertials) between the two species. Here one c=
an see the plainer/less marked and greyer plumage of the Long-billed vs the=
 browner and more barred plumage of the Short-billed. =0A=0AAlso click on t=
he x3large button to better appreciate the differences and to take a closer=
 peak at the tip of the Short-billed Dowitcher's bill. Unfortunately the ti=
p of the Long-billed is hidden in this photo but compare Shots 1, 2 or 3 wh=
ich show the much finer bill tip of the Long-billed vs the Short-billed Dow=
itcher's blunt downward curved tip shown in this photo. =0A=0APhoto Number =
7=0AAlthough this is the blurriest of the seven photos is does a very good =
job of demonstrating a couple of the things that bird enthusiasts watch for=
 as they scan through large flocks of dowitchers. =0A=0AIn this shot first =
look at the bill of the Short-billed Dowitcher. Although it is shorter, the=
 tip is quite thick and downward curved. Now look at the Long-billed Dowitc=
her and note its larger size, longer bill length and most importantly its m=
ore rounded looking shape. While any of these field marks alone do not mean=
 that the bird in question is a Long-billed they do provide a quick way to =
pick out individuals that are worth a closer scrutiny. =0A=0AIn recent year=
s Long-billed Dowitchers have become more prominent during fall migrations,=
 so they are certainly worth watching for anytime you are out looking at sh=
orebirds. =0A=0AThanks to Rick for sharing these photos and hopefully they =
will help each of us to spot even more Long-billed Dowitchers. - Cheers, Cl=
arence 
--288713719-1154741787-1377803154=:14709
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:ar=
ial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><SPAN=
 style=3D"RIGHT: auto">&nbsp;</div>
<div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><B style=3D"RIGHT: auto">Long-billed Dowitcher I=
dentification</B> </div>
<div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><BR></div>
<div>Hi all, </div>
<div><BR></div>
<div>If you have not seen the recent Long-billed Dowitcher photos posted by=
 Rick Whitman on his Smug Mug account I believe they are well worth a look,=
 as they do a great job of demonstrating some of the key field marks for qu=
icker and easier identification of immature Long-billed Dowitchers in parti=
cular as well as some helpful hints for picking out Long-billed Dowitchers =
of all ages. </div>
<div><BR></div>
<div style=3D"RIGHT: auto">His photos can be found at <VAR id=3Dyui-ie-curs=
or></VAR></div>
<div>http://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nature/Birds-July-September-2013/304219=
90_mrvsgG#!i=3D2725216545&amp;k=3DTX59MR4</div>
<div><BR></div>
<div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><B style=3D"RIGHT: auto">Photo Number 1. - Heavi=
ly Barred Tail. </B></div>
<div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scro=
ll repeat 0% 0%; RIGHT: auto">A more heavily barred tail than the Short-bil=
led Dowitcher can be a clue to identification regardless of the age or plum=
age of the Long-billed Dowitcher. This is a field mark that is </SPAN>most =
easily seen in flight but can also be observed while birds are sitting or f=
eeding as demonstrated in <SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scrol=
l repeat 0% 0%">photo number 1. </SPAN></div>
<div><BR></div>
<div><B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Ph=
otos 1 and 2. </SPAN></B></div>
<div><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Often=
 noting the age of a bird can make proper identification so much easier. Th=
is is particularly true when it come to dowitchers. Due to the varius subsp=
ecies of Short-billed, adult dowitchers can be a little trickier to identif=
y than immature plumaged birds which have clearer cut features. Photos 1 an=
d 2 provide a great back-on look that shows the neatly patterned immature f=
eathers with dark centers and buff fringes. </SPAN></div>
<div><BR></div>
<div><B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Ph=
oto Number 4</SPAN></B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll r=
epeat 0% 0%"> </SPAN></div>
<div><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">I lik=
e this photo as it clearly shows a non identification mark that is easy to =
miss in the field - the long white strip along the leading edge of the wing=
. Incidentally although this is not a reliable field mark for separating sp=
ecies I have found that this feature is often more easily observed in the f=
ield on Long-billed Dowitchers. </SPAN></div>
<div><BR></div>
<div><B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Ph=
oto Number 6 </SPAN></B></div>
<div>This photo provides a side by side comparison of the feathering on the=
 back and wings (or if you prefer -<SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transpar=
ent scroll repeat 0% 0%">scapulars and tertials)</SPAN> between the two spe=
cies. Here one can see the plainer/less marked and greyer plumage of the Lo=
ng-billed vs the browner and more barred plumage of the Short-billed. </div=
>
<div><BR></div>
<div>Also click on the x3large button to better appreciate the differences =
and to take a closer peak at the tip of the Short-billed Dowitcher's bill. =
Unfortunately the tip of the Long-billed is hidden in this photo but compar=
e Shots 1, 2 or 3 which show the much finer bill tip of the Long-billed vs =
the Short-billed Dowitcher's blunt downward curved tip shown in this photo.=
 </div>
<div><BR></div>
<div><B>Photo Number 7</B></div>
<div>Although this is the blurriest of the seven photos is does a very good=
 job of demonstrating a couple of the things that bird enthusiasts watch fo=
r as they scan through large flocks of dowitchers. </div>
<div><BR></div>
<div>In this shot first look at the bill of the Short-billed Dowitcher. Alt=
hough it is shorter, the tip is quite thick and downward curved. Now look a=
t the Long-billed Dowitcher and note its larger size, longer bill length an=
d most importantly its more rounded looking shape. While any of these field=
 marks alone do not mean that the bird in question is a Long-billed they do=
 provide a quick way to pick out individuals that are worth a closer scruti=
ny. </div>
<div><BR></div>
<div>In recent years Long-billed Dowitchers have become more prominent duri=
ng fall migrations, so they are certainly worth watching for anytime you ar=
e out looking at shorebirds. </div>
<div><BR></div>
<div>Thanks to Rick for sharing these photos and hopefully they will help e=
ach of us to spot even more Long-billed Dowitchers. - Cheers, Clarence </SP=
AN><BR style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><BR><BR></div></div></body></html>
--288713719-1154741787-1377803154=:14709--

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