Lesser Yellowlegs

The Lesser Yellowlegs is a medium-sized shorebird similar in appearance to the larger Greater Yellowlegs. It is not closely related to this bird, however, but instead to the much larger and quite dissimilar Willet ; merely the fine, clear and dense pattern of the neck shown in breeding plumage indicates these species' actual relationships.

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The Lesser Yellowlegs is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Lesser Yellowlegs usually travel in small, loosely structured flocks, but concentrations of thousands are seen at preferred foraging sites during migration and at their main wintering areas in Suriname. The species is a widespread migrant in North America, with primary movement through the interior (spring and fall) and along the Atlantic Coast (fall). More

The Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) is a medium-sized shorebird similar in appearance to the larger Greater Yellowlegs. It is not closely related to this bird, however, but instead to the much larger and quite dissimilar Willet (Pereira & Baker, 2005); merely the fine, clear and dense pattern of the neck shown in breeding plumage indicates these species' actual relationships. More

The Lesser Yellowlegs has a large range, estimated globally at 4,600,000 square kilometers. Native to the Americas and surrounding island nations and introduced to Asia, Europe and Africa, this bird prefers shrubland, grassland, wetland, and marine ecosystems. The global population of this bird is estimated at 300,000 to 800,000 individuals and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Lesser Yellowlegs is Least Concern. More

turn upward very slightly, while that of the lesser yellowlegs is slighter and quite straight. The calls of the two species are distinctive. The greater yellowlegs has a louder and clearer call, often uttered in a three- or four-note sequence, “kyew kyew kyew,” with a falling inflection to each syllable. The lesser yellowlegs tends to call once or twice. Both species of yellowlegs have a “yodeling” song in addition to the better known sharp alarm calls. More

and blunt-tipped, while Lesser Yellowlegs's bill is straight and sharp-pointed. Lesser's bill is always dark, while Greater's bill is grayish at the base in nonbreeding season. Voice is best distinguishing character: Greater gives three or four piercing notes, Lesser two rapid, softer short whistles (sometimes or or three). * Solitary Sandpiper has greenish legs and a barred tail. More

The Lesser Yellowlegs is a slender, long-legged shorebird that readily shows off the brightly colored legs that give it its name. It is an active feeder, often running through the shallow water to chase its prey. More

* Lesser Yellowlegs Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology * Lesser Yellowlegs Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding * Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter * Avibase Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lesser Yellowlegs Search Wikispecies Wikispecies has information related to: Tringa flavipes This More

Lesser Yellowlegs determination Similar species Scolopacidae Bairds Sandpiper | Bar-Tailed Godwit | Black-Tailed Godwit | Broad-Billed Sandpiper | Buff-Breasted Sandpiper | Curlew | Curlew Sandpiper | Dunlin | Eskimo Curlew | Great Knot | Great Snipe | Greater Yellowlegs | Green Sandpiper | Greenshank | Grey Phalarope | Grey-tailed Tattler | Hudsonian Godwit | More

The Lesser Yellowlegs is altogether more delicate-looking than Greater Yellowlegs. The head and, especially, the fine bill of a Lesser Yellowlegs gives an impression rather like that of a Marsh Sandpiper whereas a Greater Yellowlegs has a thicker-looking head and neck and a stouter, slightly up-turned bill and therefore looks much more like a Greenshank. Habitat Their favoured habitat is freshwater pools and marshes. More

A back view of a Lesser Yellowlegs as it takes flight off the mudflats near Shirleys Bay, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. A back view of a Lesser Yellowlegs as it takes flight off the mudflats near Shirleys Bay, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. A front view of a Lesser Yellowlegs in non-breeding plumage along the shores of Lake Ontario, Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada. A front view of a Lesser Yellowlegs in non-breeding plumage along the shores of Lake Ontario, Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada. More

legs, the Lesser Yellowlegs is similar in appearance to the Greater Yellowlegs, with some important differences. The Lesser Yellowlegs is about half the size (in weight) of the Greater Yellowlegs, which is a useful distinction when the two are seen together. The bill of the Lesser Yellowlegs is not significantly longer than the diameter of its head, whereas the Greater Yellowlegs' bill is much longer. More

Bent Life History for the Lesser Yellowlegs - the common name and sub-species reflect the nomenclature in use at the time the description was written. LESSER YELLOW-LEGS TOTANUS FLAVIPES (Gmelin) HABITS The lesser or "summer" yellow-legs is a smaller edition of the greater or "winter" yellow-legs, and both are quite similar in behavior. The lesser is more abundant and less shy, hence rather better known. More

Aspects of the topic lesser yellowlegs are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * description (in yellowlegs (bird)) The lesser yellowlegs (T. flavipes), about 25 cm (10 inches) long, appears in sizable flocks on mud flats during migration between its breeding grounds across Canada and Alaska and its wintering ground from the Gulf of Mexico to southern Chile and Argentina. More

Ruff, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin Date: 05/03/2008 Views: 180 2 votes 3 N/A Tags: bird, birding, ontario, migration, nikon d300, angus, minnesing swamp, shorebirds, ruff, lesser yellowlegs, greater yellowlegs, long-billed dowitcher, dunlin, 2008, May, lesser yellow Mixed flock of shorebirds Mixed flock of shorebirds Ruff, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin Date: 05/03/2008 Views: 140 2 votes 3. More

Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipesLesser Yellowlegs are a common shorebird of flooded fields, shorelines, and mudflats as they migrate through South Dakota. Lesser Yellowlegs are one of the two "Yellowlegs" species migrating through the state, the other being the Greater Yellowlegs. Habitat: Flooded meadows, mud flats, shallow ponds, and shorelines during migration. On its summer breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska, it breeds in clearings in the boreal forest, often near water, but not always. More

The Lesser Yellowlegs' average weight of 81 grams is less than half the Greater's 171. Though as in most shorebirds females tend to be larger than males, in the yellowlegs this sexual dimorphism is slight, not enough to affect field identification. But, as all birders know, the size of an isolated bird is often difficult to assess in the field. Fortunately, yellowlegs are often seen near other shorebirds. More

lesser yellowlegslesser yellowlegs - a variety of yellowlegs Tringa flavipesyellowlegs - either of two North American shorebird with yellow legs How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. More

Picture of Tringa flavipes above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike license.
Original source: Arthur Chapman
Author: Arthur Chapman
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Scolopacidae
Genus : Tringa
Species : flavipes
Authority : (Gmelin, 1789)