Long-billed dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

The long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-sized shorebird with a relatively long bill belonging to the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae.

Family: Scolopacidae Order: Charadriiformes Conservation: Least Concern

About the Long-billed dowitcher

The long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-sized shorebird with a relatively long bill belonging to the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae. In breeding plumage, adults are characterized by a rufous head and underparts with a darker mottled back and a large white upper rump only seen in flight. They feed in various freshwater habitats with their bill underwater in a "sewing machine" motion and have a mating display where males chase females in flight. The genus, Limnodromus is Ancient Greek from limne, "marsh" and dromos, "racer". The specific scolopaceus is Neo-Latin for "snipe-like", from Latin scolopax, scolopacis, a snipe or woodcock. The English name is from Iroquois and was first recorded in 1841. The long-billed dowitcher is similar in appearance to the short-bille

Fun Facts About Long-billed dowitcher

In breeding plumage, adults are characterized by a rufous head and underparts with a darker mottled back and a large white upper rump only seen in flight.
They feed in various freshwater habitats with their bill underwater in a "sewing machine" motion and have a mating display where males chase females in flight.
The long-billed dowitcher is similar in appearance to the short-billed dowitcher and was only recognized as a separate species in 1950.
However, the two species differ ecologically in their habitat preferences and breeding locations.
The English name is from Iroquois and was first recorded in 1841.

Conservation Status

The Long-billed dowitcher is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.

View on IUCN Red List →

Taxonomy & Classification

Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Limnodromus
Species	Limnodromus scolopaceus

Range & Habitat