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Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

General Description: Long-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus) are medium-sized shorebirds with differing summer and winter plumage. Dowitchers are recognized by their size; rotund appearance; extremely long, straight bills; and feeding behavior (like a sewing machine -- rapidly pushing their bill deep into the mud, sometimes putting their face in the water). The lower back is white.

During winter, Long-billed Dowitchers are gray overall with a distinct, light eyebrow line. During summer, they are reddish overall except for the pale eyebrow line, and the sides of the breast are barred rather than streaked.

It is very difficult to tell Long-billed from Short-billed Dowitchers, but Short-bills are quite rare around Las Vegas.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae, Scolopacinae.

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

Favored Habitat: Freshwater ponds and marshes.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for this species at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the Pahranagat Valley, and the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments: These birds can be abundant during migration.

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) If you were a tasty waterbug or a big fat worm, this might be the last face you ever see!
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitcher foraging
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Note size difference: Long-billed Dowitcher vs Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Note fine under-tail pattern
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Note flexible tip of the bill
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitchers in flight: note white stripe on back
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitchers in typical feeding pose: probing deeply in mud
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
With wings upraised, note the fine barring across the top of the tail
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Long-billed Dowitchers foraging with Black-necked Stilt
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240111
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