Here is an interesting article on the difficulty of distinguishing between
the Long and Short-billed Dowitcher species and a guide on to how to go
about it in the field.
http://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/dowitchers1005/dowitchers.html
I've picked out a couple of points the authors make.
"To make matters worse, many birders, including seasoned birders, rely on
habitat preference as a "field mark". Not only is this an useless field
mark during migration when both species occur side-by-side and in habitats
that they are not "expected" to be in, but it also masks any information
regarding local movements of dowitchers between habitats."
"One difference, as pointed out by Putnam (2005), is that Long-billeds molt
their primaries during transit whereas Short-billeds wait until they arrive
at their wintering grounds to molt their primaries."
"The best field mark for distinguishing the two dowitcher species is voice.
Short-billed gives a "call *tututu*, a staccato series of low, musical
notes a bit faster than but similar to those of a Lesser Yellowlegs"
(Paulson, 1993). Long-billed typically gives a higher pitched *keek* or
*peep* call often repeated several to numerous times in rapid succession.
The difference in voice is regarded as a nearly fail-proof field mark, and
over the course of our studies."
Cheers
Chris Gregory
On 11 November 2014 09:03, James Mustafa <>
wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Here is a link to a couple of photos that took yesterday....
>
>
> https://www.facebook.com/jamesmustafamusic/media_set?set=a.10204711600768485.1073741839.1190533907&type=1&pnref=story
>
> On Tue, Nov 11, 2014 at 3:49 AM, Joseph Morlan <> wrote:
>
> > Both species can give a single call note, although it's more typical of
> > Long-billed.
> >
> > Short-billed has a lower-pitched more mellow call, usually three rapid
> > notes "toodle-doo" especially in flight. However they may also give a
> > single mellow "tu" or "tup" note depending on context, especially while
> > feeding.
> >
> > Long-billed has a higher, squeakier call, "keeek" recalling Sanderling.
> It
> > may also call in series as "keeek keeek keeek" but with a much longer
> space
> > between the individual notes cf. Short-billed. Long-billed is much more
> > vocal, frequently keeping up a lot of chatter while foraging.
> Short-billed
> > is often silent except when disturbed or when flying with a flock.
> >
> > In California, Long-billed prefers fresh water, including inland lakes
> and
> > flooded fields, but will also use estuaries. Short-billed prefers tidal
> > mudflats. However, there are three different subspecies of Short-billed
> > Dowitcher one of which migrates regularly inland in North America.
> >
> > Short-billed is a much longer distance migrant, regularly reaching
> southern
> > South America. Long-billed is extremely rare anywhere south of the
> > equator. I am aware of only one specimen from Argentina.
> >
> > I have not yet seen an unambiguous photo of the bird. I have seen this
> > from the a camera back posted on eremaea...
> >
> > http://www.eremaea.com/sightingphotos/22/220773.jpg
> >
> > Interesting bird. Where are the Facebook photos?
> >
> > On Mon, 10 Nov 2014 19:41:27 +1100, "Mike Carter" <
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Because James Mustafa tells me that the bird issued a single note call
> it
> > is
> > >a Long-billed Dowitcher. It is still there in a big flock of waders but
> > now
> > >on the northern end of the lake not the SW corner where found. That area
> > is
> > >already dry. 4WD vehicles are not required but it seems as though the
> lake
> > >could be drying fast.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Cheers,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Mike Carter, 03 9787 7136
> > >
> > >30 Canadian Bay Road
> > >
> > >Mount Eliza, VIC 3930, Australia
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ><HR>
> > ><BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
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> > --
> > Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA
> > "It turns out we're very good at not seeing things" - Jack Hitt
> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> All the best,
>
> James Mustafa
>
> 0400 951 517
> www.jamesmustafajazzorchestra.com
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