Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,215 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): NT.
When to photograph Long-billed Dowitcher: observations by month (U.S.)
About Long-billed Dowitcher
The long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-sized shorebird. The genus name Limnodromus is Ancient Greek from limne, "marsh" and dromos, "racer". The specific scolopaceus is New Latin for "snipe-like", from Latin scolopax, scolopacis, a snipe or woodcock. The English name is from Iroquois and was first recorded in 1841.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Long-billed Dowitcher by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,815 | April | Jul–May |
| Texas | 1,980 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arizona | 935 | April | Oct–May |
| Oregon | 716 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Florida | 562 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Washington | 503 | September | Jul–Nov |
| Colorado | 255 | May | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 192 | April | Mar–May |
| Alaska | 170 | May | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 161 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 146 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 145 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 141 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Louisiana | 140 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Nevada | 134 | April | Mar–May |
| New York | 85 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Illinois | 84 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 79 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 77 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 68 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 65 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Dakota | 64 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 62 | April | Mar–May |
| Hawaii | 59 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Missouri | 50 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 48 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 46 | August | Jul–Nov |
| New Jersey | 42 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 32 | August | Aug–Oct |
| North Dakota | 32 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 31 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 29 | April | Apr–May |
| Wyoming | 29 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 25 | March | Feb–May |
| Wisconsin | 25 | May | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 24 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 22 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Mississippi | 19 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 19 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Georgia | 17 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Iowa | 17 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 16 | September | Sep–Nov |
| Arkansas | 12 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 12 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 11 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Connecticut | 10 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Long-billed Dowitcher?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Long-billed Dowitcher most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Arizona.