Long-billed Dowitcher (ID thanks to Bill Rowe and Kevin Karlson)

Description:

Summary.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;background-color:#f8f9fa;padding:5px;font-size:95%;border-spacing:2px;box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;width:100%}.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr{vertical-align:top}.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>th,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>th{padding:4px}.mw-parser-output.fileinfo-paramfield{background:#ccf;text-align:right;padding-right:0.4em;width:15%;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+div.commons-file-information-table>table{border-top:0;padding-top:0;margin-top:-8px}@media only screen and (max-width:719px){.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table.fileinfotpl-type-information{border-spacing:0;padding:0;word-break:break-word;width:100%!important}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody{display:block}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>th,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>th{padding:0.2em 0.4em;text-align:left;text-align:start}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+div.commons-file-information-table>table{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output.fileinfo-paramfield{box-sizing:border-box;flex:1 0 100%;width:100%}} Description: English: Winfield Sandy Slough We originally felt this was a Short-billed Dowitcher, thinking we heard the tu-tu-tu call - and so we contacted Bill Rowe about documenting this bird. Bill, feeling this was a Long-billed Dowitcher, sent on our photos to Kevin Karlson, who had this to say: "Bill, this bird is 100 percent a Long-billed Dowitcher, and probably a female due to the very long bill with a slight downcurve on the outer 20 percent near the tip. The observers' confusion probably came from the fact that occasionally a LBDO will give multiple calls when alarmed, giving the observer a multiple syllable call that could confuse some birders into thinking it was the typical Short-billed call tu-tu--tu. The difference is that the LBDO call is all on one pitch, and does not descend on the third syllable like Short-billed, and also the call notes are sharp and not soft and plaintive like SBDO, so the LBDO multiple call notes are peek, peek, peek, or whatever spelling one chooses to describe the sharp, resonating note of LBDO. The gray-hooded look of this bird, as if it was dipped in a bucket of soot, is a good feature for winter LBDOs, with SBDOs having a whitish background to the gray feathering on the head, neck and upper breast. The bill is also classic LBDO, with a narrow base and uniformly thick bill from base to tip, with SBDO typically showing a deeper bill base and a relatively thick bill that does not taper greatly to the tip. There are other reasons why this is a LBDO, but no need to go into them here. It is a classic LBDO, with the first-year juvenile wing coverts showing wear and not replaced yet. LBDO juvs typically replace their wing coverts in mid-winter. Kevin" We can't thank them both enough for all the trouble they both took to help us make sure we identified this bird correctly. Date: 12 November 2021, 12:24:18. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/80270393@N06/51682987580/. Author: Wildreturn.