Distinguishing Characteristics

Medium-sized sandpiper 25–29 cm long, wingspan 45–51 cm, 90–120 g, with a straight bill about twice as long as the head. Geographically variable. In breeding (Alternate) plumage, L. g. griseus, which migrates mainly through e. North America, has pale-orangish underparts, and the color is restricted to the breast; belly mainly white; spotting dense, mainly on breast and upper breast; upperparts dark. Overall, griseus is slightly smaller and shorter-billed than other races. L. g. hendersoni, which migrates mainly through e. and central North America, is slightly larger and longer-billed; rusty color of the underparts darker and more extensive, extending to belly and under tail-coverts, color matching that of the mud on which it feeds during later part of breeding season; ventral spotting sparser, and with more ventral barring than other races. Pale margins of dorsal feathers wider and buffier than in griseus, making impression of more golden dorsum. L. g. caurinus, which migrates mainly through w. North America, averages slightly larger than other races and is intermediate between other races in amount of spotting and extent of cinnamon on underparts. In all races tail barred black and white

In all races, lower back (concealed by folded wings, but conspicuous in flight) and rump are white, presenting pattern of white “V” up back, which distinguishes both Short-billed and Long-billed dowitchers from shorebirds of similar shape: Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and American Woodcock (Scolopax minor). Red Knot (Calidris canutus) is similar in coloration in all adult plumages, but much chunkier, with much shorter bill, and with white area on dorsum confined to rump and tail. Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) similar in Basic plumage, but smaller and more slender; keeps more upright posture while not feeding and lacks white on lower back.

Most similar to Long-billed Dowitcher, which averages slightly larger, longer-billed and more brightly colored in Alternate plumage (see below). Primaries typically extend 2–3 mm beyond tail in Short-billed, but usually do not extend beyond tail at all in Long-billed (Rowan 1932, Pitelka 1950). In both species of dowitchers, females average larger, more heavily marked on the venter, and less brightly colored than males. Much overlap between small male Long-billed and large female Short-billed, so that body size and bill length are unreliable for differentiating species, except in extreme cases. In Alternate plumage, all races of adult Short-billed Dowitcher distinguished from Long-billed by palish lower belly (almost white in griseus and caurinus, and orange in hendersoni); entire venter brick red in Long-billed. Short-billed also lacks strong barring on sides and flanks, which is characteristic of breeding Long-billed Dowitchers. Tail pattern variable and not diagnostic; averages paler in Short-billed because dark bars narrow (Pitelka 1950, Wilds 1990).

Long-billed Dowitchers retain breeding coloration longer than griseus and hendersoni (Rowan 1927, Jehl 1963) and on Atlantic Coast in mid-Aug can be separated from Short-billed, most of which are already in gray Basic plumage. Adults in Basic plumage difficult to separate, as plumage is very similar and sizes overlap.

Compared to juvenile Short-billed, young Long-billed Dowitcher darker above and grayer below, especially on face, neck, and chest. Tertials of young Short-billed heavily patterned with buff, whereas those of Long-billed evenly dark with narrow buffy margins.

Call notes are distinctive. Flight call of Short-billed a melodic tu, usually repeated up to 3 or 4 times (see Fig. 4B). Typical call of Long-billed a high keek, given once or repeated several times.

High rate of deep-probing feeding movements, combined with low mobility, without the sudden turns of tringine sandpipers, is characteristic of both species of dowitchers (see Food habits: feeding, below).