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;[[:Category:Tringa|Tringa]] melanoleuca | ;[[:Category:Tringa|Tringa]] melanoleuca | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 29–33 cm | + | Length 29–33 cm, wingspan 70-74 cm, weight 110-235 g |
*Dark brown streaks on head and neck | *Dark brown streaks on head and neck | ||
| + | *Long, bright chrome yellow legs | ||
| + | *Square white rump, not extending in an inverted 'V' up the back | ||
| + | *Upperpart feathering strongly spangled white in breeding plumage, slightly drabber in winter plumage | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | Easily confused with [[Lesser Yellowlegs]], but | + | *Easily confused with [[Lesser Yellowlegs]], but obviously larger (29-33 cm length, vs 23-25 cm). Bill is longer, about 1.5x the size of the head from front to back, where head and bill are about equal in Lesser Yellowlegs; bill is also stronger and often slightly upturned, and with a paler base (needle-straight, and all black in Lesser). Legs are proportionately stronger, especially the "heel" (often mis-called the "knee"). |
| − | |||
| − | Legs are proportionately stronger, especially the "heel" ( | ||
[[Image:YellowLegs7-26-08.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|onlybill|onlybill}}<br />[[Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge]], July 2008 ]] | [[Image:YellowLegs7-26-08.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|onlybill|onlybill}}<br />[[Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge]], July 2008 ]] | ||
| + | *[[Common Greenshank]] is structurally very similar, about the same size and with similar paler-based, slightly upturned bill; it differs obviously in dull greenish legs, less white spotting on the upperpart feathers, and in flight by the white rump extending in a long inverted 'V' up the back. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
'''Breeds''' [[Alaska]] and [[Canada]]<br /> | '''Breeds''' [[Alaska]] and [[Canada]]<br /> | ||
'''Winters''' to southern [[South America]] | '''Winters''' to southern [[South America]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | A rare vagrant to the western and eastern fringes of the Old World; much rarer (less than annual) there than Lesser Yellowlegs. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. Genetically, its closest relative is the [[Common Greenshank]] (which also replaces it ecologically in the Old World); this species pair is next most closely related to [[Spotted Redshank]]<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 27: | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
They lay 4 eggs in a ground nest. | They lay 4 eggs in a ground nest. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | '''Call''': ''tyew_tyew_tyew'', similar to [[Common Greenshank]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2014) | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#Pereira, S. L., & Baker, A. J. (2005). Multiple Gene Evidence for Parallel Evolution and Retention of Ancestral Morphological States in the Shanks (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae). ''The Condor'' 107: [http://individual.utoronto.ca/sergiolp2/pdf/Condor2005.pdf 514–526] |
| + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2014) | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
Revision as of 13:44, 14 June 2015
- Tringa melanoleuca
Identification
Length 29–33 cm, wingspan 70-74 cm, weight 110-235 g
- Dark brown streaks on head and neck
- Long, bright chrome yellow legs
- Square white rump, not extending in an inverted 'V' up the back
- Upperpart feathering strongly spangled white in breeding plumage, slightly drabber in winter plumage
Similar Species
- Easily confused with Lesser Yellowlegs, but obviously larger (29-33 cm length, vs 23-25 cm). Bill is longer, about 1.5x the size of the head from front to back, where head and bill are about equal in Lesser Yellowlegs; bill is also stronger and often slightly upturned, and with a paler base (needle-straight, and all black in Lesser). Legs are proportionately stronger, especially the "heel" (often mis-called the "knee").
- Common Greenshank is structurally very similar, about the same size and with similar paler-based, slightly upturned bill; it differs obviously in dull greenish legs, less white spotting on the upperpart feathers, and in flight by the white rump extending in a long inverted 'V' up the back.
Distribution
Breeds Alaska and Canada
Winters to southern South America
A rare vagrant to the western and eastern fringes of the Old World; much rarer (less than annual) there than Lesser Yellowlegs.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1]. Genetically, its closest relative is the Common Greenshank (which also replaces it ecologically in the Old World); this species pair is next most closely related to Spotted Redshank[2].
Habitat
Tidal marshes, salt pans, muddy estuaries, freshwater lakes and streams.
Behaviour
Diet
Aquatic and land insects, small crustaceans, fish and worms.
Breeding
They lay 4 eggs in a ground nest.
Vocalisation
Call: tyew_tyew_tyew, similar to Common Greenshank.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Pereira, S. L., & Baker, A. J. (2005). Multiple Gene Evidence for Parallel Evolution and Retention of Ancestral Morphological States in the Shanks (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae). The Condor 107: 514–526
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2014)
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Yellowlegs. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Yellowlegs
External Links
