Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Photo by postcardcv
Hayle, Cornwall, UK, February 2006

Identification

27-30cm

• Yellowish-green legs
• Long straight dark bill, slightly distally de-curved
• Tail has a black and white barred pattern
• Prominent supercillium
• Noticeable white trailing edge to wing

Breeding

Breeding Plumage
Photo by Neil
Palo Alto, California, May 2006

• Dark brown upperparts
• Orangy-red underparts
• Spotted throat and breast
• Barred flanks

Winter

• Mostly grey
• White lower belly

Distribution

Breeds in Siberia and Alaska; winters from southern U.S. to Panama.

Regular vagrant to Europe, particularly Britain and Ireland.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Photo by eastwood
Iona, Richmond British Columbia, August 2006

Habitat

Although preferring fresh water habitats, they can also be seen in estuaries, mud flats, saltwater wetlands, reservoirs, and sewer ponds.

Behaviour

Breeding

They nest on the ground, usually near water.

Diet

Diet mainly consists of small crustaceans, molluscs, insects and marine worms, but includes some plant material as well. They forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Long-billed Dowitcher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Long-billed_Dowitcher

External Links

Search for photos of Long-billed Dowitcher in the gallery