SW Florida USA - Yellowlegs (4 Viewers)

[Fandango739]

As much as I try, I still have trouble telling my lesser from my greater yellowlegs.
Seen at the Ding Darling Preserve on Sanibel Island, Florida during December.
Thanks!

 

[DHayden]

There's a quote that states "They were put on earth only to confuse birdwatchers."
Both species can be found at Sanibel in December. Tough call on this one. Makes it easier when you see both species side-by-side.

 

[raymie]

The left one is Greater and I would assume the right one is, as well.

 

[THE_FERN]

The left one is Greater and I would assume the right one is, as well.

Good to explain why you think this

 

[raymie]

Good to explain why you think this

The bill is slightly upturned, which is how you can tell it's Greater and not Lesser.

 

[Harrybongo]

Hi. Just to add - as well as the slightly upturned bill, as already mentioned, the bill length on Greater, is longer than it's head, and on Lesser, it's roughly the same length.......left hand bird looks pretty good for Greater.

 

[THE_FERN]

There are other things too. Overall, left hand bird looks large-bodied with head/neck sort-of stuck on. Lesser generally appears more graceful than this.

Note you have to be careful with some characters like bill length where there can be overlap

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I'm not sure how helpful this is to those based predominantly in the US, but in the field Lesser vs Greater is (generally) quite easy purely on Jizz from a European context; LY = common redshank, GY = common greenshank

 

[lou salomon]

I'm not sure how helpful this is to those based predominantly in the US, but in the field Lesser vs Greater is (generally) quite easy purely on Jizz from a European context; LY = common redshank, GY = common greenshank

I'd compare them more with Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper, structurewise.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I'd compare them more with Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper, structurewise.

I'd probably agree Lou (save the difference in bill structure), it was more a reflection that Redshank is more familiar to most compared with Marsh sandpiper