Fred,
The Wilson's snipe are darker in appearance and fly erratically when flushed...They also make a funny sound when they take off...They frequent marshes, pastures, and stream bottoms... They also almost never fly in flocks of more than 2 or 3, and are usually by themselves...In the hand, they have a reddish brown tail area.
Short & long billed dowitchers like shallow water edged ponds and they on the other hand, are almost always in flocks...Much lighter in color and lack the reddish brown back & tail...They make a peeping sound in flight.
Short story...So, Cal & I are hunting a friends duck club back in 1975...Ducks weren't flying all that well, but the "snipe" were flying like crazy...I think Cal got like 4 with one shot...Then the owner of the club showed up and informed us that those flocks of "snipe" were dowitchers...We ate them and thought they were similar to doves...lol