Short-billed Dowitcher photo by Rudolf Koes
Dowitchers are medium-sized, long-billed shorebirds that feed in shallow water, by poking their bills into the mud, in sewing machine fashion. Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers both have rufous necks and underparts in breeding plumage, with scalloped upperparts and a distinctive white upper rump. Plumages are very similar and bill length is not a reliable fieldmark, as there is overlap. They are best separated by their flight calls: a sharp “keek” or “keek-keek” for Long-billed Dowitchers and a soft “du-du-du” for Short-billed, less strident than the calls of yellowlegs.
Does it migrate?
Both species are migrants through southern Manitoba. Long-billed Dowitchers are virtually absent in spring in the province, so any Dowitcher seen at that time is likely Short-billed. In fall both species can be locally very common, with Long-billed generally remaining later into the season than Short-billed.
Short-billed Dowitcher photo by Rudolf Koes
Where does it live?
Short-billed Dowitchers breed in northern Manitoba and elsewhere in the northern boreal forest and taiga regions of North America. Long-billed Dowitchers breed in the far western Arctic of North America.
Where can I see it?
Churchill is the best place to see Short-billed Dowitchers in breeding season. During migration, Whitewater Lake is probably the best area to see both species in good numbers. Depending on water levels, the Teal Cell at Oak Hammock Marsh can be productive for Long-billed Dowitchers in mid- to late fall.
Conservation.
Although Short-billed Dowitchers have been poorly studied, declines have been noted. It winters in coastal lagoons, which are under threat from development for tourism and aqua culture, perhaps leading to this decline. Long-billed Dowitchers are considered Species of Least Concern.
Did you know?
It was not until the 1950s that dowitchers were split into two species, largely due to the research of Frank Pitelka.
Written by Rudolf Koes