Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form
(this form is available on www.idahobirds.net)
Rare Bird Report #: 76-B-07
Species: Short-billed Dowitcher (subspecies not known)
Reporter: (include address, phone, e-mail)
Lisa Hardy
819 W. Park Ave.
Kellogg, ID 83837
208-783-1262
basalt@earthlink.net
Other Observers: none
Date Report Prepared: 19 August 2007
Date Sighting Occurred: 11 August 2007 mid-day
Locality of Observation: Medimont, Kootenai County, ID. Specifically, in the triangle of marsh downstream of Medimont, and bounded by the bike trail and the Coeur d'Alene River.
Habitat: marsh, shallow water
Conditions: sunny and hot
Did you take notes…
during the observation? ____________no
after the observation? ______________yes
the same day? ____________________yes
another day?______________________
not at all? ________________________
Did you consult a field guide or other reference work?
during the observation?____________yes
later the same day? _______________
another day? _____________________
not at all? ________________________
What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult? Paulson, 1993
Description: Two dowitchers foraging with typical stitching motion. They looked quite similar to one another, though one looked a few feathers further along in molt. They showed a weak orange-buff wash over most of the underparts, and small black chevrons across the upper breast. Dark cap and dark eye line. There were some gray unmarked feathers in the coverts which led me to believe I was looking at adults just starting to molt from alternate into basic.
I was considering Short-billed as a strong possibility because of the small delicate dark markings on the upper breast, the lack of any rich rufous color, the contrasty dark cap. When I heard one of them vocalize, I looked up, and saw that they had flown. The call was a 3-note rising "dee-dee-dee", that had the quality of a yellowleg's voice. The only other shorebirds that I found in this area were Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe.
Behavior: Two dowitchers foraging with typical stitching motion. They flew twice while I was there, but I missed seeing them in flight.
How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you?
The vocalization ruled out Long-billed Dowitcher, the only other possible candidate.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? The vocalization ruled out Long-billed Dowitcher, the only other possible candidate. Several other factors suggested SBDO rather than LBDO, namely the paleness of the orange-buff underparts, the more delicate markings on the breast, and the onset of molt, which Paulson states is more likely to be seen in adult SBDO in August than in LBDO. However, being in molt could affect the first two fieldmarks noted, though one bird was a bit further along in molt yet they appeared similarly pale underneath. That suggests to me that the paleness was part of the alternate plumage. I am interested to hear what more experienced observers think of the photos.
Experience with this species (and similar species): A small amount of experience - I have had a chance to study dowitchers on perhaps 10 occasions.
General birding experience: intermediate
Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach) I took 15 photos, from which I am attaching 2 cropped images. They are not very good photos: I was taking them by holding my camera up to my scope, and it was a windy day, but they illustrate the fieldmarks I mention in this report. The photos show the molting, the color of the underparts and the markings on the upper breast. I will be glad to provide the other photos if anyone wishes to see them.
