Dowitcher ID can definitely be a challenge, as the plumages can be quite variable -- especially due to differences in age and molt patterns. I have examined a fair number of museum skins of these two species, and have found that the back patterns and the tail patterns (when they can be seen -- as the tail feathers are often concealed) can be pretty distinctive. The tertials and uppertail coverts can also be useful. A good guide for the species is often the overall blackness of these feathers. The tail on a Long-billed appears darker, since the black bars are wider than the white bars -- and I have found that this characteristic is generally also true on the uppertail coverts. The back pattern of a Long-billed also appears darker, often with more black present, and the rufous areas are more chestnut. On a Short-billed the rufous areas on the back are more golden-hued -- making the upperparts appear paler. In part due to the darker back pattern on a Long-billed, the white feather tips appear more contrasty than they do on a Short-billed. For these reasons, my opinion is that birds A and B are Short-billed, and that C is a Long-billed. Tom Schultz Green Lake Co. -----Original Message----- From: Ryan Brady Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 8:45 PM To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [wisb] Dowitcher ID - what do you think? Short version...what species are represented by these dowitchers seen in Ashland yesterday? http://www.pbase.com/rbrady/dowitcherid http://www.pbase.com/nanich/dowitchers Longer version... Sam Krerowicz found three dowitchers just west of Ashland yesterday and then Nick Anich and I headed out to take a look after work. We didn't have much time and expected Short-billeds, even though it's slightly earlier (by about a week) than we usually see them. We walked up and tried turning them into Long-billeds. We thought we might have 1 LB and 2 SBs at one point and then convinced ourselves they were all just the expected SBs as LBs are quite rare here. We soon left to return to our fatherly duties but later last night that ID didn't sit well with us. After some chatting Nick and I started to convince ourselves that Bird C had to be a LB. Then we were leaning toward all 3 being LBs. Then we were just downright confused. And here we are...confused. This is a tough ID and one Nick and I frankly are not comfortable with. We butchered the whole process as we could've had killer photos of the birds in perfect light but our hurriedness resulted in mostly poo r digiscopes and heavily cropped dSLR shots, which are in the two galleries above. What do you think? I've labeled the individuals in my gallery for ease of referencing Birds A, B, and C during discussion. Ryan Brady Washburn, Bayfield County, WI http://www.pbase.com/rbrady #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn