Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

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About the Long-billed Dowitcher

The long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-sized shorebird with a relatively long bill belonging to the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae. In breeding plumage, adults are characterized by a rufous head and underparts with a darker mottled back and a large white upper rump only seen in flight. They feed in various freshwater habitats with their bill underwater in a "sewing machine" motion and have a mating display where males chase females in flight. The genus, Limnodromus is Ancient Greek from limne, "marsh" and dromos, "racer". The specific scolopaceus is Neo-Latin for "snipe-like", from Latin scolopax, scolopacis, a snipe or woodcock.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Limnodromus scolopaceus
Family: Sandpipers and Allies
Order: Charadriiformes

Similar species

Other members of the sandpipers and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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