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Index of Subjects
Index of Subjects --288713719-1154741787-1377803154=:14709 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =A0=0A=0A=0A=0ALong-billed Dowitcher Identification =0A=0AHi all, =0A=0AIf = you have not seen the recent Long-billed Dowitcher photos posted by Rick Wh= itman on his Smug Mug account I believe they are well worth a look, as they= do a great job of demonstrating some of the key field marks for quicker an= d easier identification of immature Long-billed Dowitchers in particular as= well as some helpful hints for picking out Long-billed Dowitchers of all a= ges. =0A=0AHis photos can be found at =0Ahttp://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nat= ure/Birds-July-September-2013/30421990_mrvsgG#!i=3D2725216545&k=3DTX59MR4= =0A=0APhoto Number 1. - Heavily Barred Tail. =0AA more heavily barred tail = than the Short-billed Dowitcher can be a clue to identification regardless = of the age or plumage of the Long-billed Dowitcher. This is a field mark th= at is most easily seen in flight but can also be observed while birds are s= itting or feeding as demonstrated in photo number 1. =0A=0APhotos 1 and 2. = =0AOften noting the age of a bird can make proper identification so much ea= sier. This is particularly true when it come to dowitchers. Due to the vari= us subspecies of Short-billed, adult dowitchers can be a little trickier to= identify than immature plumaged birds which have clearer cut features. Pho= tos 1 and 2 provide a great back-on look that shows the neatly patterned im= mature feathers with dark centers and buff fringes. =0A=0APhoto Number 4=0A= I like this photo as it clearly shows a non identification mark that is eas= y to miss in the field - the long white strip along the leading edge of the= wing. Incidentally although this is not a reliable field mark for separati= ng species I have found that this feature is often more easily observed in = the field on Long-billed Dowitchers. =0A=0APhoto Number 6 =0AThis photo pro= vides a side by side comparison of the feathering on the back and wings (or= if you prefer -scapulars and tertials) between the two species. Here one c= an see the plainer/less marked and greyer plumage of the Long-billed vs the= browner and more barred plumage of the Short-billed. =0A=0AAlso click on t= he x3large button to better appreciate the differences and to take a closer= peak at the tip of the Short-billed Dowitcher's bill. Unfortunately the ti= p of the Long-billed is hidden in this photo but compare Shots 1, 2 or 3 wh= ich show the much finer bill tip of the Long-billed vs the Short-billed Dow= itcher's blunt downward curved tip shown in this photo. =0A=0APhoto Number = 7=0AAlthough this is the blurriest of the seven photos is does a very good = job of demonstrating a couple of the things that bird enthusiasts watch for= as they scan through large flocks of dowitchers. =0A=0AIn this shot first = look at the bill of the Short-billed Dowitcher. Although it is shorter, the= tip is quite thick and downward curved. Now look at the Long-billed Dowitc= her and note its larger size, longer bill length and most importantly its m= ore rounded looking shape. While any of these field marks alone do not mean= that the bird in question is a Long-billed they do provide a quick way to = pick out individuals that are worth a closer scrutiny. =0A=0AIn recent year= s Long-billed Dowitchers have become more prominent during fall migrations,= so they are certainly worth watching for anytime you are out looking at sh= orebirds. =0A=0AThanks to Rick for sharing these photos and hopefully they = will help each of us to spot even more Long-billed Dowitchers. - Cheers, Cl= arence --288713719-1154741787-1377803154=:14709 Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:ar= ial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><SPAN= style=3D"RIGHT: auto"> </div> <div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><B style=3D"RIGHT: auto">Long-billed Dowitcher I= dentification</B> </div> <div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><BR></div> <div>Hi all, </div> <div><BR></div> <div>If you have not seen the recent Long-billed Dowitcher photos posted by= Rick Whitman on his Smug Mug account I believe they are well worth a look,= as they do a great job of demonstrating some of the key field marks for qu= icker and easier identification of immature Long-billed Dowitchers in parti= cular as well as some helpful hints for picking out Long-billed Dowitchers = of all ages. </div> <div><BR></div> <div style=3D"RIGHT: auto">His photos can be found at <VAR id=3Dyui-ie-curs= or></VAR></div> <div>http://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nature/Birds-July-September-2013/304219= 90_mrvsgG#!i=3D2725216545&k=3DTX59MR4</div> <div><BR></div> <div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><B style=3D"RIGHT: auto">Photo Number 1. - Heavi= ly Barred Tail. </B></div> <div style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scro= ll repeat 0% 0%; RIGHT: auto">A more heavily barred tail than the Short-bil= led Dowitcher can be a clue to identification regardless of the age or plum= age of the Long-billed Dowitcher. This is a field mark that is </SPAN>most = easily seen in flight but can also be observed while birds are sitting or f= eeding as demonstrated in <SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scrol= l repeat 0% 0%">photo number 1. </SPAN></div> <div><BR></div> <div><B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Ph= otos 1 and 2. </SPAN></B></div> <div><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Often= noting the age of a bird can make proper identification so much easier. Th= is is particularly true when it come to dowitchers. Due to the varius subsp= ecies of Short-billed, adult dowitchers can be a little trickier to identif= y than immature plumaged birds which have clearer cut features. Photos 1 an= d 2 provide a great back-on look that shows the neatly patterned immature f= eathers with dark centers and buff fringes. </SPAN></div> <div><BR></div> <div><B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Ph= oto Number 4</SPAN></B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll r= epeat 0% 0%"> </SPAN></div> <div><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">I lik= e this photo as it clearly shows a non identification mark that is easy to = miss in the field - the long white strip along the leading edge of the wing= . Incidentally although this is not a reliable field mark for separating sp= ecies I have found that this feature is often more easily observed in the f= ield on Long-billed Dowitchers. </SPAN></div> <div><BR></div> <div><B><SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">Ph= oto Number 6 </SPAN></B></div> <div>This photo provides a side by side comparison of the feathering on the= back and wings (or if you prefer -<SPAN style=3D"BACKGROUND: none transpar= ent scroll repeat 0% 0%">scapulars and tertials)</SPAN> between the two spe= cies. Here one can see the plainer/less marked and greyer plumage of the Lo= ng-billed vs the browner and more barred plumage of the Short-billed. </div= > <div><BR></div> <div>Also click on the x3large button to better appreciate the differences = and to take a closer peak at the tip of the Short-billed Dowitcher's bill. = Unfortunately the tip of the Long-billed is hidden in this photo but compar= e Shots 1, 2 or 3 which show the much finer bill tip of the Long-billed vs = the Short-billed Dowitcher's blunt downward curved tip shown in this photo.= </div> <div><BR></div> <div><B>Photo Number 7</B></div> <div>Although this is the blurriest of the seven photos is does a very good= job of demonstrating a couple of the things that bird enthusiasts watch fo= r as they scan through large flocks of dowitchers. </div> <div><BR></div> <div>In this shot first look at the bill of the Short-billed Dowitcher. Alt= hough it is shorter, the tip is quite thick and downward curved. Now look a= t the Long-billed Dowitcher and note its larger size, longer bill length an= d most importantly its more rounded looking shape. While any of these field= marks alone do not mean that the bird in question is a Long-billed they do= provide a quick way to pick out individuals that are worth a closer scruti= ny. </div> <div><BR></div> <div>In recent years Long-billed Dowitchers have become more prominent duri= ng fall migrations, so they are certainly worth watching for anytime you ar= e out looking at shorebirds. </div> <div><BR></div> <div>Thanks to Rick for sharing these photos and hopefully they will help e= ach of us to spot even more Long-billed Dowitchers. - Cheers, Clarence </SP= AN><BR style=3D"RIGHT: auto"><BR><BR></div></div></body></html> --288713719-1154741787-1377803154=:14709--
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Index of Subjects