Long-billed Dowitcher

Identification

The long-billed dowitcher is a medium-sized, stocky sandpiper with a distinctive bill approximately twice the length of its head. In breeding plumage (May through late August or early September), adults display a striking rufous neck, chest, and belly with a dark crown, black bars on the breast, and white barring on the flanks. The back is a mottled mix of brown, black, and buff, while the wings appear overall dark brown. A key field mark is the large white rump, visible in flight, which extends up to the middle of the back, contrasting with the black-and-white barred tail.

In winter plumage, long-billed dowitchers become much drabber—grey upperparts and breast contrasting with a paler white belly—making them nearly identical to short-billed dowitchers in the field. The most reliable way to distinguish the two species in winter is by their flight call. Bills are typically straight and black, becoming yellowish olive-green near the base, and legs are also yellowish. Females are generally heavier than males and have longer wings and bills.