Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Introduction

With a more easterly breeding distribution than its long-billed cousin (which it closely resembles in non-breeding plumage), it is, somewhat surprisingly, a much less frequent visitor to Britain & Ireland, with only a handful of records.

The nest and eggs of this species eluded discovery until 1906, and the nesting grounds of the eastern race were not discovered until the late 1950s.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

115g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

238 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Aberdeenshire, 1999 (Co. Wexford, 1985)

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Short-billed Dowitcher is a very rare vagrant, usually recorded in autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Short-billed Dowitcher movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Short-billed Dowitcher, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Short-billed Dowitcher

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Scientific name: Limnodromus griseus
Authority: JF Gmelin, 1789

BTO 2-letter code: DG
BTO 5-letter code: SHBDO
Euring code number: 5260

Alternate species names

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Catalan: tetolet gris
Czech: slukovec krátkozobý
Danish: Kortnæbbet Sneppeklire
Dutch: Kleine Grijze Snip
Estonian: raba-neppvigle
Finnish: rämekurppelo
French: Bécassin roux

German: Kleiner Schlammläufer
Hungarian: rövidcsoru cankógoda
Icelandic: Snípuduðra
Irish: Guilbnín Gobghearr
Italian: Limnodromo grigio
Latvian: maza dunsloka
Lithuanian: amerikinis dumblius
Norwegian: Kortnebbekkasinsnipe

Polish: szlamiec krótkodzioby
Portuguese: maçarico-de-costas-brancas / maçarico-de-bico-curto
Slovak: brežník sivý
Slovenian: kratkokljuni greznik
Spanish: Agujeta gris
Swedish: mindre beckasinsnäppa

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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