Re: Need help with a shorebird ID

["Matthew J. Williams" <mjw22 at comcast dot net>]

Milt & others,

Thanks for these photos. I'm not a super-shorebirder either (challenges 
like these help) but I did notice a few things that were pretty 
interesting.  Cliff already caught the one about the bird with the dark 
tail resting in the back being a Yellowlegs (I'd lean toward greater with 
size as my only clue).  That almost made me think Long-tailed, however 
there were a few more interesting things in these photos.

Photo 4 shows 3 birds.  The two on the left are almost directly in-line 
with the camera.  The one in the front seems like it has a shorter 
bill.  This almost made me think that both species are present.  However, 
this is likely an optical illusion since I noticed that the seemingly 
shorter-billed bird's head was turned more towards the camera.

As for the tail pattern on the dowitchers standing in the water (check out 
the reflection as well), I would say that it looks more like Short-billed 
(in referencing p.70) in Ken Kauffman's "Advanced Birding".  Kauffman also 
suggests that the dark breast is more restricted and slightly lighter gray 
on Short-billeds.  On the first photo there appears to be some variation in 
this feature among individuals, however, despite how hard I try, I can only 
get so far as to second Milt in saying that these are "Possible" 
Short-billed dowitchers but I don't think there is enough evidence to 
refute the more likely Long-billed.  My reluctance to take a stand on this 
is completely in-line with Kauffman's advice on winter dowitchers on p 
71.  "If you cannot judge the tail pattern or hear the call, however, it is 
almost always dangerous to label a dowitcher in nonbreeding plumage".

I'm OK with using rules of thumb on which is the early migrant and which 
comes later, however I certainly don't think that should prevent anyone 
from looking and reporting (and photographing...or sound recording) 
anything that seems suspicious.  There's a reason why Western Meadowlark is 
Sturnella neglecta....it took a while for someone to take the time to stop 
and take notice.

I'd love to hear more comments, particularly about the tail pattern and 
other field marks. It seems as though the birds were shuffling around a bit 
too (were they Milt?) so that the bird in front seems to have different 
plumages in different pictures.  Light?  I don't know.  I'm going to bring 
a microphone with me when I go scoping shorebirds this spring!

Good Birding,
Matt Williams
Provo, UT     


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