Short-billed Dowitcher at Reesor Pond in Markham near Toronto

22 May 2014

This is a hendersoni subspecies Short-billed Dowitcher. It is brightly coloured cinnamon from the head to the undertail coverts. It has diagnostic spotting on the side of the neck. Long-billed Dowitchers have well-formed bars on the side of the neck in front of the wing. Both species have barring on the flanks. Some fresh hendersoni such as this individual have white tips to the scapulars suggesting Long-billed so rely on other characters listed above. Also, see below. Reesor Pond in Markham near Toronto on 22 May 2014.

Spotting is very light on the neck, whereas the Long-billed Dowitcher's neck is heavily spotted forming a band across the neck. Reesor Pond in Markham on 22 May 2014

Bill length usually cannot be used to separate Short-billed from Long-billed Dowitchers because bill lengths overlap. Reesor Pond in Markham on 22 May 2014