The Asian Dowitcher is a large wader and member of the Limnodrominae family. The species has a length of 33–36 cm and a wingspan of 59 cm. Males weigh 180 g while females weigh 190 g. The species is distinctive, combining elements of both snipes and godwits. It is characterised by a long neck, long dark legs and a diagnostic long dark straight, snipe-line bill. It is slightly larger and bulkier than the Greenshank, Tringa nebularia and smaller and slimmer than the male Bar-tailed Godwit, L. semipalmatus. There is a marked seasonal variation in plumages and juveniles are distinct from adults (Higgins & Davies 1996).
Asian Dowitcher |
Limnodromus semipalmatus
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Species Profile and Threats Database, Limnodromus semipalmatus
Threats Top Global Threats There are a number of threats that affect migratory shorebirds in the Flyway.
Global warming and associated changes in sea level are likely to have a long term impact on the breeding; staging and non breeding grounds of migratory waders (Harding et al. 2007).