Long-billed Dowitcher
NDGF
L 11.5”, WS 19”, 4 oz. Breeding/spring plumage: rufous neck and belly, dark barring on sides. Fall/nonbreeding plumage: drab gray, barring absent.
Status in North Dakota
Migrates through North Dakota in mid-April through late May, and early July through early November.
Range Map
Long-billed Dowitcher primary (dark gray/hatch) and secondary (medium gray/hatch) migration range.
Reason for SWAP Designation
At-risk based on expert review (SGCN c.).
ND hosts > 5% (8.39) of global population in the post-breeding migration season.
The peak week for Long-billed Dowitcher migration in ND (~26-July) hosts >20% (21.13) of the global population.
The Long-billed Dowitcher is declining precipitously.
Threats
Loss and degradation of wetlands, drainage and wetland consolidation.
Loss of habitat on the breeding and wintering grounds and amplified effects of climate change in arctic and coastal habitats.
Classified as climate-stable, Longbilled Dowitcher is projected to maintain more than half of its current distribution (Audubon).
Loss and degradation of migratory stopover habitat and impacts of human activity at important stopover areas.
Increasing applications of agrochemicals and adverse impacts to water quality, the wetland vegetative community, and the aquatic invertebrate community.
Long-billed Dowitchers may be exposed to high concentrations of synthetic insecticides in non-buffered cropland ponds during the spring migration.
More frequent or intense harmful algal blooms.
Aquatic nuisance species spreading and damaging wetland ecosystems.
Research and Monitoring
Demographic studies are limited.
Information lacking on migration strategies, stopover sites, and wintering behaviors.
Multiple large-scale shorebird monitoring programs are key sources of information on distribution and population trends.
However, minimal focus has been directed at research or monitoring migrant shorebirds in ND.
Management Recommendations
- Maintain wetland complexes.
- Conserve shallow, working wetlands in cropland.
- Plant vegetative buffer strips around wetlands in cropland.
- Identify and target high priority landscapes, habitats, and stopover sites for protection.
- Conscientious and appropriate application of agrochemicals.
Primary Geological Regions
Habitat Associations
Habitat Use
Long-billed Dowitchers breed in a small region of the tundra from northeast Russia, northern Alaska and northwest Canada, and winters in coastal areas of the southern U.S. and Central America.
This shorebird is an intermediate-distance migrant.
During migration, they use the Prairie Pothole Region extensively.
Uses a variety of wetlands, lakes, and cropland ponds during migration.
Prefer freshwater over brackish water.
Feeds on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as midges, beetles, but also seeds.