Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

A chunky shorebird whose 'short' bill is twice as long as its head; it probes mud like a sewing machine.

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About the Short-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed dowitchers are 9 to 12.5 inches long, a bit bigger than a robin. Despite the name, their bill is about twice as long as their head; it's only short compared with the long-billed dowitcher. In summer they are bright orange with dark markings. They nest in northern marshes, bogs and wet meadows and spend winter on coastal mudflats.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Limnodromus griseus^[1]
Size: 9 to 12.5 inches long; 18- to 22-inch wingspan.^[1]
Lifespan: The oldest known wild bird was nearly 14.^[1]
Diet: Crustaceans, marine worms, insects and mollusks.^[1]
Habitat: Northern marshes, bogs and wet meadows for nesting; coastal mudflats in winter.^[1]
Where it lives: Breeds in the far north; winters on warm coasts.^[1]
Group life: Large flocks in migration, often with other shorebirds.^[1]
Babies: 3 or 4 eggs, incubated for about 3 weeks.^[1]
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List, assessed 2024).^[2]

Fun facts

A dowitcher feeding in mud looks like a sewing machine.^[1]
Its 'short' bill is about twice as long as its head.^[1]
Its scientific name means about 'gray marsh racer.'^[1]

Vocabulary

shorebird: A bird that lives and feeds along beaches, mudflats and other shorelines.
probe: To poke into something to search or explore.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
bog: Wet, spongy ground made of dead plants.
vulnerable: A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Short-billed dowitcher.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/short-billed-dowitcher (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Limnodromus griseus (Short-billed Dowitcher).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22693344/260758243 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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