Wildlife Around Las Vegas, Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)

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Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas

Short-billed Dowitcher male in summer plumage

General Description: Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) 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, Short-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 streaked rather than barred.

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

Short-billed Dowitcher in winter plumage

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae, Scolopacinae.

Favored Habitat: Mud flats and salt marshes.

Where to Find: Don't look for Short-billed Dowitchers around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them on the coast during winter. However, it is always worth keeping an eye out for this rare Las Vegas species at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the Pahranagat Valley, and the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments:

If you were a tasty worm or a little sand-crab, this might be the last face you ever see!



Short-billed Dowitcher male in summer plumage	Short-billed Dowitcher female in summer plumage
Short-billed Dowitcher female with two fledglings	Short-billed Dowitcher female with two fledglings
Short-billed Dowitchers in evening light	Short-billed Dowitchers in evening light

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.

; Last updated 240111

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