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Re: Advanced Birding 101

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Jim Stasz

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Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:08:14 EDT

Hi Folks!
 
I do not know "how close" we are to having the AOU officially split  
"Short-billed Dowitcher" into three species, but my guess is that the birds did  
that about 10,000 years ago and the taxonomists are yet to catch up.
 
The differences between breeding plumage Prairie [hendersoni] and Atlantic  
[griseus] are handled fairly well in Sibley and the 5th Geo guide. For a  
fuller treatment get out "The Shorebird Guide" by O'Brien, Crossley & 
Karlson.
 
When I started birding, the field guides had only "Dowitcher", because  
Long-billed was at that time a subspecies.
 
Good Birding!
 
Jim
 
Jim Stasz
North Beach MD

 
 
 
In a message dated 7/17/2010 4:45:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
 writes:

" 25  Short-billed Dowitchers (8 *hendersoni
> Short-billed Dowitcher  (Atlantic)     17
> Short-billed Dowitcher  (Prairie)     8> Walter Ellison & Nancy Martin  "

How many out there were somewhat taken aback that Walter and Nancy  were
separating subspecies of Short-billed Dows? Sent me running for my  Sibley.

Turns out there are actually 3 subspecies and they (ahem) only  got 2 of
them. Tough luck guys. None the less, they do have rather distinct  
plumages,
but they apparently start getting harder to tell apart in August  (which
ain't far away). The Prairie version practically looks like a Red  Knot with
a long bill. There is also a Pacific version in addition to the  Atlantic
they got.

I think an obvious question is - are these 3  anywhere close to being
separated into 3 different species? Just wondering  if we can all look
forward to an extra tick on our lists any time soon.  Anybody that wants to
comment feel free to jump in.

Doing my birding  inside today and wondering what a Cardinal outside is
singing about.  Doesn't he know it's kinda dumb to waste energy like that
today? I think  our thermometer reads just over 200 so the lake across the
street ought to  reach boiling point any time now.

Jerry Tarbell
Staying cool in  Carroll County