Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

The Short-billed Dowitcher is a medium-sized shorebird with a long, straight bill and distinctive mottled gray-brown plumage. During the breeding season, it can be found in the Arctic tundra, where it nests on the ground near wetlands. In the winter, it migrates to coastal mudflats, salt marshes, and freshwater marshes in southern North America and northern South America. This species forages by probing its bill into the mud for small invertebrates and insects. It is known for its distinctive 'sewing machine' feeding behavior, rapidly bobbing its head as it forages. Short-billed Dowitchers are highly gregarious and often form large flocks during migration and wintering.

Habitat: Coastal mudflats, salt marshes, freshwater marshes