Vik's Gallery:   Long-billed Dowitcher (1/10)

CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Limnodromus scolopaceus  

Long-billed Dowitcher or Short-billed Dowitcher? That was the question.

Either way, this is a very rare sighting.

The current consensus amongst the experts says Long-billed. The Long-billed Dowitcher is not a rare bird but its regular stamping ground, or rather paddling pool, is North America, not Australia, and this bird turning up in northern Victoria is possibly a first report for Australia.