Long- and Shortbilled-Dowitchers are hard to tell apart, even in spring breeding plumage. This one has more subdued colors, often found on Short-billed. But it has the diagnostic silver tips to the fresh underpart feathers, not found on Short-billed. Also it has apparent bars on the sides of the breast, its primaries extend very little past the tail and the tertials, and it was photographed in fresh water, all characteristic, though not diagnostic, of Long-billed.