Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), Watson Lake, Yavapai County

This Short-billed Dowitcher was discovered by Davied Vander Pluym and Lauren Harter on 11 October 2010 and photographed by Michael Nicosia on 15 October 2010.

Short-billed Dowitcher is an uncommon fall migrant in Arizona with a peak passage in late August and early September and a few individuals continuing to pass through into about the middle of October. All wintering dowitchers in Arizona are Long-billed.

The bright, crisp edges to the back feathers identify this dowitcher as a juvenile. These photographs show  the "tiger striped" tertials that are diagnostic in juvenile dowitchers for Short-billed. In the second photo notice how much brighter and crisper the juvenile Short-billed on the right is compared to the adult Long-billed on the left.  Even juvenile Long-bills are dull and look more like adults in basic plumage. Juvenile Short-bills on the other hand are brightly colored, crisply patterned and contrasty. 

15 October 2010, photo by Michael Nicosia

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