Short-billed Dowitcher

25-30 cm (10-12") Common. Nests on Tundra bogs, winters on coastal mudflats, marshes.

Robin-sized sandpiper feeds by probing mud with long straight black bill in a rapid sewing-machine motion. Yellow-green to gray legs. 

Summer: mottled blackish and rust upperparts; mostly bright rusty underparts.

Winter: gray-brown above, whitish below.

In flight, bold white rump extends up back.

Dowitchers are best distinguished by voice.

Song: mellow rapid "tu-tu-tu".

Videos

Images

Credit: Laura Gooch

Credit: Marc AuMarc

Credit: Greg Schneider

Credit: Seabamlrum

Credit: Dan Irizarry