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Tom Grey | all galleries >> North American Birds by Type >> Shorebirds >> Dowitchers >> Dowitcher species > Dowitcher sp., flexing bill tip
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29-DEC-2015 Tom Grey

Dowitcher sp., flexing bill tip

Charleston Slough

All the dowitchers I heard calling in saltwater Charleston Slough around the time I took this picture were Short-billed, but this one's bill was so long that it raised a doubt in my mind whether it could be that species. The flexible tip of the upper mandible is an adaptation for grasping prey items below a mud or sand surface. It is common to both dowitcher species, as well as some other shorebirds.

Canon EOS-1D X ,Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM
1/4000s f/8.0 at 700.0mm iso1600 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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