Courtesy Preview
This Introductory article that you are viewing is a courtesy preview of the full life history account of this species. The remaining articles (Distribution, Habitat, Behavior, etc.), as well as the Multimedia Galleries and Reference sections of this account are subscriber-only content, and you will need a subscription in order to view the species account in its entirety. Click on the Subscribe tab for more information.
If you are already a current subscriber, you will need to sign in with your login information to access BNA normally.
Sounds
Vocalizations
Development
No data.
Vocal Array
Calls of dowitchers largely diagnostic (Jehl 1963). Long-billed Dowitcher call generally described as single-noted sharp or strident keek given as a single, double, or triple note by both adults and immatures (Fig. 2); Short-billed Dowitcher whistled tu-tu-tu or teu-teu-teu (Jehl 1963, Lenna 1969). Explosive alarm call of Short-billed Dowitcher may be mistaken for a keek . Second call given by both species is to or tu; given singly or up to 8 times in succession; similar to shorter, flatter, species-specific teu-teu-teu call of Short-billed Dowitcher (Lenna 1969). Notes of song described by some as pee-witch-er, resembling onomatopoeic English name (Cramp and Simmons 1983). Miller et al. (1984) described song pattern (Fig. 2) as an introduction, followed by several repetitions of a complex song unit; introduction graded series of brief elements, broad frequency range, increasing then decreasing quickly in frequency. Doublet song with first part rapidly increasing in frequency before leveling off; second doublet (similar pattern or more complex) rises then falls, amplitude of peaks roughly equal. Appears to be no geographic variation; same song in Russia as in Alaska (Miller et al. 1984).
Phenology
No data.
Daily Pattern Of Vocalization
No data.
Places Of Vocalization
Will call while in flight or from ground while roosting or feeding, not necessarily in response to disturbance. Long-billed Dowitcher may be more vocal than Short-billed Dowitcher (Paulson 1993). Gives keek or tu call from ground, unlike Short-billed Dowitcher, which is generally silent on ground (Lenna 1969). Appears to sing directly over territory (B. McCaffery pers. comm.).
Repertoire And Delivery Of Songs
Song described as peet-peet; pee-ter-wee-too; wee-too; per-ter-wee-too; per-ter-wee-too, wee-too, wee-too (Johnsgard 1981). Analysis of songs by Miller et al. (1984) suggests song similar to that of Short-billed Dowitcher in hierarchical organization and characteristics of buzzy elements. Major differences between Long-billed and Short-billed dowitcher songs include: presence of doublets versus single elements at comparable positions in song; lower versus higher number of buzzy elements; and weakly developed versus strong amplitude modulation in type C elements (simple buzzes; Miller et al. 1984). Long-billed Dowitcher song sequence similar to that of Least Sandpiper, including modulation of song units and amplitude and frequency of song.
Social Contact And Presumed Function Of Vocalizations
Parts of song may be delivered at stopover sites during spring migration (NW). Heard to call loudly while flying with other males in pursuit of female (Bent 1927); produces song after mating while hovering about 15 m above ground. Unknown if female sings. See Agonistic behavior, below.
Nonvocal Sounds
No information.
Takekawa, John Y. and Nils Warnock. 2000. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/493
