General

Short-billed Dowitcher: Large sandpiper with gray, black, brown and red-brown mottled upperparts, white rump, and red-brown underparts with heavy spots and bars (east and west coast birds have more heavily barred and spotted, paler underparts and usually show white bellies). Bill is long, straight, and dark. Legs are long and dark yellow-green. Sexes are similar. East and west coast birds winter adult is gray with fewer spots below, and shows plain white on belly. Juvenile resembles breeding adult but is much paler and has white belly.

Range and Habitat

Short-billed Dowitcher: Breeds in southern Alaska, central interior Canada, and northern Quebec. Spends winters along coasts of California and Virginia southward. Preferred habitats include mudflats, creeks, salt marshes, and tidal estuaries.

Breeding and Nesting

Short-billed Dowitcher: Four brown-speckled, buff green or brown eggs are laid in a ground depression lined with grass and moss. Eggs are incubated for 21 days by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Short-billed Dowitcher: Diet consists mostly of insects, but also eats eggs of king and horseshoe crabs; probes mud by jabbing its long bill up and down.

Vocalization

Short-billed Dowitcher: Song is a soft "tu-tu-tu."

Similar Species

Short-billed Dowitcher: Long-billed Dowitcher has barred flanks, rust-brown belly, thin, white wing stripes visible in flight, and longer bill.