Bird of the Week – Long-billed Dowitcher
A handsome, chunky shore bird with an impressive bill, the Long-billed Dowitcher is found throughout most of Alaska in migration, breeds on the wester coast and is very easily confused with its Short-billed cousin. Dowitchers forage with a rapid up and down motion, probing with their bill, like a frenzied sewing machine. It’s very distinctive. They are seen most often in the spring, during migration. It can be pretty tough to tell Long-billed from Short-billed Dowitchers in the field. The Long-billed has a bill length more than twice the thickness of the bird’s head; the Short-billed isn’t quite so magnificent….
Bird of the Week – Long-billed Dowitcher
With AKM’s permission, Wickersham’s Conscience will post a Bird of the Week very nearly every week here at the Mudflats. This week, it’s a Long-billed Dowitcher on the frozen Tanana Lakes south of Fairbanks. WC’s eye was caught by the contrast between a long-billed shorebird and the solid ice, as well as the warm colors of the bird against the steely color. Besides, he was singing to WC. Technical stuff: Canon 1D-X, 300mm lens with a 2.0 teleconverter, tripod; f5.6, 1/500, ISO400. This is about a 50% crop, so there is some loss of detail.