Identification

Dowitchers look superficially like short-legged godwits but are only the size of a Knot. Juvenile birds can be readily separated from Short-billed Dowitchers because on a Short-billed Dowitcher the tertials are patterned with obvious barring whereas on a Long-billed each tertial feather is plain grey apart from a pale border. In spring and summer, a combination of completely red belly and heavily barred sides to the breast would rule out all races of Short-billed Dowitcher but otherwise adult birds can defy confident identification unless they call

Habitat

In America at least, long-billed Dowitchers are said to prefer freshwater habitats whereas Short-bills are more likely on coastal shorelines.

Migration

Breeding birds including the Siberia population winter on Pacific and Atlantic coasts of America, as far south as California across to Florida. Majority moving between south between July and September, return passage noted in April and May.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Long-billed Dowitcher is classed as Rare: species currently considered for acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee (or forms of equivalent rarity).

Sadler's Slough, Alberta, Canada 19/05/2010	Marshside, Lancs 01/05/2010	Marshside, Lancs 01/05/2010	Tacumshin, Wexford 20/02/2010	Port Carlisle, Cumbria 03/01/2010
Port Carlisle, Cumbria 03/01/2010	Port Carlisle, Cumbria 28/12/2009	Port Carlisle, Cumbria 28/12/2009	Port Carlisle, Cumbria 28/12/2009	Port Carlisle, Cumbria 28/12/2009

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This species has been reported in the following areas (Bird News Extra subscribers can click a county name for more details):

Avibirds: Long-billed Dowitcher	Edit this link
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BTO BirdFacts: Long-billed Dowitcher	Edit this link
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