** Deb Beutler asked -

> How does one tell a Short-billed Dowitcher from a Long-billed
> Dowitcher. I know that bill length is not an acceptable criteria because
> the differences are so slight and there is acutally overlap. Is it solely
> by call or is there some plumage differences. Is there a good reference on
> the subject such as an article in Birding or something like that.

IMO, the best reference in field guide format is "Guide to the identification
and aging of Holarctic Waders" by A. J. Prater, J.H. Marchant, and J. Vuorinen.
First published as the 17th guide in the field guide series of the British Trust
for Ornithology in 1977, this little work has stood up well through the years.
You should be able to get it at any reputable bird bookstore.

> In southeastern Idaho, I just automatically assumed they were all
> Long-bills but occassionly Dr. Trost would find a few Short-bills mixed in.
> Is it safe to assume that dowitchers in northern Idaho and eastern
> Washington are Long-bills?

Is this where I am supposed to say that it is never safe to assume anything?
The two "dowies" are quite easily told apart when the birds are in their first
juvie plumage. Young Short-billeds have distinctly marked scaps and tertials -
they are dark brown and broadly edged and vermiculated with bright buff-brown.
The same feathers of Long-billed juvies are dark brown with a narrow fringe of
chestnut-brown (darker than buff-brown of Short-billed).

Plumages converge after the juvie stage such that a good view of things like
the width of the barring on the tail and upper breast spotting is needed. There
is so much overlap in bill length between the two species that only the longest
female Long-billeds can be reliably IDed by that discriminant. Call notes are
distinct though at all ages and this is what is used by most birders to
differentiate the two species - a mellow "tu-tu-tu" in Short-billed and a Pygmy
Nuthatch-like sharp "keek!" in Long-billed.

Hope this helps.

- Jack