Comments on: Dowitcher Variation and Identification http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2006/09/08/dowitchers/ An Aspiring Naturalist Learns His Place Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:50:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Nils Warnock http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2006/09/08/dowitchers/#comment-3528 Nils Warnock Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:46:31 +0000 http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2006/09/08/dowitchers/#comment-3528 Hi, Of the two dowitchers, I would say that the upper left bird (the darker one) is a Long-billed Dowitcher while the other one looks to be a Short-billed Dowitcher. On LBDO in the spring, I look for (among other things), the barred feathers on the sides, with fresh, frosty white tips. You can also see the "pac-man" shaped tips to the wing coverts. The other bird looks too spotty through the upper breast and neck areas to be a Long-billed; however, I have been banding dowitchers this spring and summer and there is a lot of variation. Hope this helps. Best, Nils Hi,

Of the two dowitchers, I would say that the upper left bird (the darker one) is a Long-billed Dowitcher while the other one looks to be a Short-billed Dowitcher.

On LBDO in the spring, I look for (among other things), the barred feathers on the sides, with fresh, frosty white tips. You can also see the “pac-man” shaped tips to the wing coverts.

The other bird looks too spotty through the upper breast and neck areas to be a Long-billed; however, I have been banding dowitchers this spring and summer and there is a lot of variation.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Nils

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