RARE BIRD REPORT #: 19-B-04

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Short-billed Dowitcher

HOW MANY:

one

REPORTER:

Terry Gray
890 Stefany Ln
Moscow ID 83843

REPORTER EMAIL:

clgtlg@moscow.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Charles Swift and others on field trip to Mann Lake. Charles Swift was trip leader and made the call on this bird. It was a life bird for me so first time seeing this bird species.

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

1/4/07

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

Sep. 11, 2004

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Mann Lake, Nez Perce County, near Lewiston, Idaho.

HABITAT:

reservoir with mud shoreline

CONDITIONS:

Obsered this bird for approximately 15 minutes while with a group birding the reservoir. Weather was cloudy and cool and light conditions were adequate to observe that this bird looked diferent from other dowitchers at the reservoir. We were able to get within about 20 feet of this bird.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, during the observation

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

Sibley's and National Geographic field guide to birds.

DESCRIPTION:

Shorebird. This bird was obviously a Dowitcher. Bird had yellow legs with a heavy long bill slightly curving downward. Breast was spotted and the belly was white. The tail was shorter than the wings. The coverts and tertials were were highly patterned giving this bird a somewhat diferent look that the Long-billed Dowitchers.

BEHAVIOR:

While observing this bird. It remained by itself and continued to feed along the muddy shoreline of the reservoir. Did not hear it call or see it fly.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

After much discussion and looking at field guides the group came to the conclusion that this bird was a Short-billed Dowitcher.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

Group discussion.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

This was a life bird for me.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

Been an active birder for the past 6 years.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

Photo (on IdahoBirds.net Photo Gallery)