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Short-billed Dowitcher

Status Common transient. It is uncommon in spring, generally first appearing in late April or early May (average 7 May, earliest 18 April; one on Sable Island on 8 April 1972 was abnormally early). Small flocks are sometimes seen in May, but the bird is seldom seen after month's end (latest 3 June). A bird on Sable Island on 13 June 1975 may have summered in the region, but 14 on Cape Sable on 21 June 1979 were presumably early migrants. Fall migrants otherwise appear routinely in early July (average 5 July, earliest 30 June). They are most numerous in late July and August and are still present in small numbers in October. Later birds, including one on Cape Sable on 28 December 1968, have not always been critically distinguished from possible Long-billed Dowitchers.

Description Length: 26-30 cm. All plumages: Legs and feet yellow or greenish yellow. Adults in spring: Upperparts dark brown to black with feather edges of various shades of reddish ochre; tail and rump white, more or less spotted or barred with black; underparts, including throat and breast, strongly brick-red, finely spotted across breast with black. Adults in autumn: Dull gray on back more or less interspersed with brown and ruddy ochre, as worn in summer; head, neck. breast and flanks lighter gray; chin lighter than breast or face; often show the red-breasted summer plumage, but it is worn, faded and interspersed with gray.

Range Breeds in southern Alaska, southern Mackenzie Valley, northern Alberta, northeastern Manitoba and the interior of northern Quebec. Winters from the southern United States south to Brazil.

Remarks This bird is partial to the muddy shorelines and margins of brackish pools so frequently found behind beaches along the coast. Its straight bill, which in length rivals that of the Common Snipe, and its white tail and nump narrowly banded with black, are good field marks. It is locally called the "spot-rump."

The regular subspecies here is Limnodromus griseus griseus, which nests in northern Quebec. A few adult Limnodromus griseus hendersoni, which breed in the far northwest, have been distinguished in recent years among early fall migrants. When still in breeding plumage, they retain more extensive rufous on the belly, are almost unspotted on the upper breast and have much brighter feather edgings above, compared with adult L. g. griseus at the same stage.