Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Introduction 6
Long-billed Dowitchers are a peculiar sight on Central Texas lakes and ponds in the winter, forming closely knit groups of drab, long-billed birds foraging in the mud for invertebrates. These grayish-brown birds contrast greatly from their bright orange, black, brown, and gold plumage they don while on their tundra breeding grounds in the summer. The tip of the Dowitcher's bill has many tactile receptors called Herbst corpuscles that allow the Dowitcher to locate their prey by touch. This species was included in the Short-billed Dowitcher subspecies group until 1950, when Frank Pitelka distinguished the longer-billed bird from its nearly identical counterpart.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Mark Peck, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/76929746@N04/15488456472/
- (c) Mick Thompson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/mickthompson/49915622903/
- (c) Mick Thompson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/mickthompson/24561885390/
- (c) Julio Mulero, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/juliom/48849588321/
- (c) Allan Hack, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/aehack/26166811127/
- (c) Justin Foucart, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
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