dowitcher

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: Hi all, : I have been trapping dowitchers in the spring recently : (California and Mexico), and I continue to be challenged : by the identification of SB and LBDO. At first glance, : I would have said this picture is of an adult, molting : LBDO, probably female - it has a long, slightly S shaped : bill and the primary projection appears short (wings : shorter than tail). Primary projections can be tricky to : tell in photographs and this bird is slightly turned toward : the camera, so I am not sure that the wings are actually : shorter than the tail. However, other characteristics : suggest SBDO. The bird is moderately spotted on the : sides with very few bars. LBDO tend to have fine barring : down the sides. There is light spotting on the flanks : and there appears to be light spotting in the belly area. : These areas are rarely spotted (or barred) in LBDO. : Even in a molting bird (and based on the date and appearance, : this bird recently started molting), I would have expected : more orange in the breast if it were a LBDO. There is a : fair amount of white showing throughout the breast of this : bird. Another clue is the habitat - in the picture this bird : looks as if it is out on mudflats. As a rule, LBDO are : generally found in areas with fresher water, brackish marshes, : etc. SBDO are more often found directly on the coast. : My guess: adult, female (with very long bill) SBDO : Thanks for the picture. : Cheers, : Nils : Nils Warnock : Point Reyes Bird Observatory

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