Eastern subspecies (nominate griseus)
of the Short-billled Dowitcher (left) with Lesser Yellowlegs on
Mersea 1 on 7 May. This bird is griseus in breeding plumage.
Note that the upperparts feathers - scapulars and mantle - are
breeding plumage feathers. It has a light wash of cinnamon on the
neck/breast, with the belly being mainly white,
unlike Long-billed Dowitcher in breeding plumage which is brightly
coloured from the neck to the undertail coverts and has well-formed
bars on the side of the breast. The hendersoni subspecies of
Short-billed Dowitcher is brightly coloured to the undertail
coverts. |
Eastern subspecies (nominate griseus)
of the Short-billled Dowitcher on Mersea 1 on 7 May. The cinnamon
coloration is on the neck/breast with the belly being mainly white.
It lacks the Long-billed
Dowitcher's well-formed bars on the side of the breast and bright
coloration below. Compared to hendersoni Short-billed
Dowitcher, it lacks bright coloration on underparts. The
hendersoni subspecies is very
lightly spotted to not spotted across the middle of the neck and
upper breast, whereas griseus
is more heavily spotted across the neck and breast, |