Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of South Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of Australia Sandpipers & Allies of Canada Sandpipers & Allies of the United Kingdom Sandpipers & Allies of the United States Sandpipers & Allies of South Australia Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Manitoba Sandpipers & Allies of New Brunswick Sandpipers & Allies of Newfoundland and Labrador

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The Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 111 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Limnodromus
Species griseus

Where it lives

Northern temperate bogs in tundra and muskeg of Nearctic: Gulf of Alaska and inland south-central Alaska, southwestern Yukon and montane northwestern British Columbia (northwestern Canada); north-central Alberta to western Manitoba (central Canada); southwestern Hudson and James bays to western Labrador (east-central Canada)

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 111 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Great Snipe

Gallinago media

Least Concern

Swinhoe’s Snipe

Gallinago megala

Vulnerable

Wood Snipe

Gallinago nemoricola

Least Concern

Wilson’s Snipe

Gallinago delicata

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Short-billed Dowitcher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Short-billed Dowitcher is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA n temperate bogs in tundra and muskeg of Nearctic: Gulf of Alaska and inland sc Alaska, sw Yukon and montane nw British Columbia (nw Canada); nc Alberta to w Manitoba (c Canada); sw Hudson and James bays to w Labrador (ec Canada).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 111 g, with a wing length of about 14.3 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.4 million km².

Songs & calls

Short-billed Dowitcher — Alarm call, call, flight call, song, godwit-like

Recorded by Stanislas Wroza Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Short-billed Dowitcher?

The Short-billed Dowitcher is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 111 g.

Where does the Short-billed Dowitcher live?

The Short-billed Dowitcher is found across North America with a range covering NA n temperate bogs in tundra and muskeg of Nearctic: Gulf of Alaska and inland sc Alaska, sw Yukon and montane nw British Columbia (nw Canada); nc Alberta to w Manitoba (c Canada); sw Hudson and James bays to w Labrador (ec Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Short-billed Dowitcher belong to?

The Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Short-billed Dowitcher eat?

The Short-billed Dowitcher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Short-billed Dowitcher migrate?

The Short-billed Dowitcher is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Short-billed Dowitcher endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Short-billed Dowitcher make?

1 real field recording of the Short-billed Dowitcher — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Short-billed Dowitcher's range?

The Short-billed Dowitcher has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million km².