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Thread: Dowitchers

  1. #1
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    Default Dowitchers

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    Two birds, both different.

    Can you ID?

  2. #2
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Long- and short-billed? It's kind of difficult without seeing the bills. :)

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    Actually, it should be fairly easy, even without seeing the bills or hearing the calls :)

  4. #4
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Is the left bird the short-billed? The plumage on the back looks similar to that in Sibley's. I like those ID games. :)

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    BPN Viewer Bruce Enns's Avatar
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    Right bird = Long-billed Dowitcher
    Left bird = Short-billed Dowitcher

    Cheers!
    Bruce

  6. #6
    Phil Battley
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    And now the detailed reasons why...

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    Hey,

    I'll let others take a shot at distinguishing features,as this is a good complex to learn. I'm just wondering when this photo was taken- was it taken in MA? Was it taken in salt,fresh water..mix? These two are important things to consider when considering Long-billed Dowitchers in the east.

    Dave Brown

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    BPN Viewer Bruce Enns's Avatar
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    The patterns on the tertials of the left (short-billed) don't exist on the right bird (long-billed) in this plumage...buffy breast on short-billed and much duller gray breast on long-billed. Slightly less well-defined white supercilium in long-billed.

    Bruce

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    You should tell us the date the image was taken, but these both seem to be juvs.

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    Image was capyures on the beach with an outgoing tide in Plymouth MA....on Plymouth Loing Beach which is a barrier beach facing Cape Cod Bay.

    Capture date was 9/16 of this year.

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    Excellent side by each comparison shot Jim. Differences in tertials, as pointed out by Bruce, clearly illustrated.

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