Long-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher, breeding plumage, AK, June

About the photographs

About the map

Play sound from this species

Long-billed Dowitcher, adult, nonbreeding (transitional) plumage

Long-billed Dowitcher, juvenile

Menu

1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A long-billed shorebird recognizable for both its distinctive profile and sewing machine-like feeding action, the Long-billed Dowitcher is most common west of the Mississippi.

Description

• Medium-sized shorebird.
• Bill twice as long as head.
• Moderately long, pale legs.

• Size: 29 cm (11 in)
• Weight: 90-131 g (3.18-4.62 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, but female is slightly heavier and has longer bill.

Sound

Flight call a sharp "peep," or quick series of two to five notes, "pee-p-p-pep."

Conservation Status

Populations seem to be stable or increasing.

Other Names

Bécassin à long bec (French)
Costurero pico largo (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Most Siberian breeding Long-billed Dowitchers likely migrate to the Americas during the winter.
• Although both sexes share incubation of the eggs, only the male takes care of the young once they hatch.

Sources used to construct this page:

Takekawa, J. Y., and N. Warnock. 2000. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus). In The Birds of North America, No. 493 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.