right|thumb|A short-billed dowitcher bathing in the Delaware Bay.

thumb|Adult in foreground, [[red knot in background]]

The short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), like its congener, the long-billed dowitcher, is a medium-sized, stocky, long-billed shorebird in the family Scolopacidae.

It is an inhabitant of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Gmelin based his description on the "brown snipe" from the coast of New York, described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham and the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant. The short-billed dowitcher is now placed in the genus Limnodromus, that was introduced in 1833 by Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek limnē, meaning "marsh," with -dromos, meaning "-racer" or "-runner." The specific griseus is Medieval Latin, meaning "grey." The English name "dowitcher" is from Iroquois and was first recorded in 1841.

Three subspecies are recognised:

  • Limnodromus griseus caurinus Pitelka, 1950 – Breeds: Gulf of Alaska and inland central-south Alaska, southwest Yukon and montane northwest British Columbia (northwest Canada). Winters: central USA to Peru
  • Limnodromus griseus hendersoni Rowan, 1932 – Breeds: central-north Alberta to west Manitoba (central Canada). Winters: southeast USA to Panama
  • Limnodromus griseus griseus (Gmelin, JF, 1789) – Breeds: southwest Hudson Bay and James Bay to west Labrador (central-east Canada). Winters: South USA to Brazil

Description

Adults' bodies are dark brown on top and reddish underneath. The tail has a black-and-white barred pattern, and the legs are yellowish.

The three subspecies have slight variations in appearance:

  • Limnodromus griseus griseus has a white belly and barred flanks.
  • Limnodromus griseus hendersoni has a reddish belly and spotted flanks.
  • Limnodromus griseus caurinus has a white belly, heavily barred flanks, and a densely spotted breast.

None of these combines the reddish belly and barred flanks of the breeding plumage of the long-billed dowitcher. The winter plumage is largely grey. This bird can range from in length, in wingspan and in body mass.

  • Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
  • Short-billed dowitcher species account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • Short-billed dowitcher, Cape Jourimain Nature Centre