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

This Short-billed Dowitcher was discovered and photographed by Tom Johnson on 29 February 2012

All previous records of this species in SE Arizona fall between mid April and mid October.  This is the first winter report for SE Arizona. 

Relatively short-medium bill with a fairly strong kink midway; plumage-wise, the strong wavy pattern on the flanks is suggestive of Short-billed Dowitcher. As the visual ID of basic plumage dowitchers is very challenging, this ID was confirmed by vocalizations - a mellow, rapid "tu-tu-tu" was given as the bird was standing in the water and in flight.

29 February 2012, photo by Tom Johnson

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