Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), Willcox, Cochise County

This Short-billed Dowitcher was discovered by Dave Stejskal and photographed by Tom Ryan on 15 August 2009 at the Willcox Big Pond.

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 well the "tiger striped" tertials that are diagnostic in juvenile dowitchers for Short-billed.  Also note the relatively flat-backed foraging posture which differs from the typical hunch-backed posture of Long-billed. 

15 August 2009, photos by Tom Ryan

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