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Difference between revisions of "Lesser Yellowlegs" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Lesser_Yellowlegs.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|bcurrie|bcurrie}}<br />Near Corinne, [[Utah]], July 2003]]
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;Tringa flavipes
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;[[:Category:Tringa|Tringa]] flavipes
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[[Image:Lesser_Yellowlegs.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by bcurrie]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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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.
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[[Image:608-03399fg Nonbreeding Lesser Yellowlegs.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Non-breeding<br />[[Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Florida]], [[USA]], April 2008]]
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23-25 cm (9-9¾ in) length, 59-64 cm wingspan, 48-114 g weight.<br />
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Adults have long yellow legs and a long thin dark bill, about the same length as the head. The body is grey brown on top and white underneath; the neck and breast are streaked with dark brown. The tail is white.
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*Bright long yellow legs in all plumages
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'''Adults'''
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*Upperparts grey-brown with white spotting
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*Long, thin dark bill, which is virtually straight
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*Underparts white
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*Neck and breast have dark brown streaks
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*The tail is white with darker barring
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*Square white rump
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*Very short [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]]
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====Similar Species====
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[[Image:LesserYLegs9-7-08.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|onlybill|onlybill}}<br />[[Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Texas]], [[USA]], September 2008 ]]
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Larger [[Greater Yellowlegs]]; [[Common Redshank]], which has red legs; [[Wood Sandpiper]] which may occasionally show yellowish (rather than green legs), but has a longer supercillium. [[Marsh Sandpiper]] is structurally similar, but has duller greenish-yellow legs, and a more extensive inverted-V shaped white rump extending up the back.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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Their breeding habitat is clearings near ponds in the boreal forest region from Alaska to Quebec. They migrate to the Gulf coast of the United States and south to South America. This species is a regular vagrant to western Europe, and the odd bird has wintered in Great Britain.
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'''Breeds''' in [[Alaska]], [[Canada]] and the [[United States]]. Winters south to Tierra del Fuego and [[Galapagos]].
  
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Frequent '''vagrant''' to [[Europe]], usually in the autumn; most records are from the [[British Isles]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Forest
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Marshes, mudflats, shores, and pond edges.  In summer, open boreal woods.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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They nest on the ground, usually in open dry locations. These birds forage in shallow water, sometimes using their bill to stir up the water. They mainly eat insects, small fish and crustaceans. The call of this bird is softer than that of the Greater Yellowlegs.
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====Flight====
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Trails feet in flight. Has a similar outline to [[Wood Sandpiper]].
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====Breeding====
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They nest on the ground, usually in open dry locations.  
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====Diet====
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Their main diet consists of insects, small fish and crustaceans which they gather from shallow water. They sometimes use their bill to agitate the water.  
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
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#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
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#Wikipedia
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Tringa flavipes" {{!}} "Lesser Yellowlegs"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tringa]]
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==External Links==
 
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Tringa+flavipes View more images of Lesser Yellowlegs in the gallery]
 
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[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 20:59, 20 January 2023

Photo © by bcurrie
Near Corinne, Utah, July 2003
Tringa flavipes

Identification

Photo © by bobsofpa
Non-breeding
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA, April 2008

23-25 cm (9-9¾ in) length, 59-64 cm wingspan, 48-114 g weight.

  • Bright long yellow legs in all plumages

Adults

  • Upperparts grey-brown with white spotting
  • Long, thin dark bill, which is virtually straight
  • Underparts white
  • Neck and breast have dark brown streaks
  • The tail is white with darker barring
  • Square white rump
  • Very short supercilium

Similar Species

Photo © by onlybill
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA, September 2008

Larger Greater Yellowlegs; Common Redshank, which has red legs; Wood Sandpiper which may occasionally show yellowish (rather than green legs), but has a longer supercillium. Marsh Sandpiper is structurally similar, but has duller greenish-yellow legs, and a more extensive inverted-V shaped white rump extending up the back.

Distribution

Breeds in Alaska, Canada and the United States. Winters south to Tierra del Fuego and Galapagos.

Frequent vagrant to Europe, usually in the autumn; most records are from the British Isles.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Marshes, mudflats, shores, and pond edges. In summer, open boreal woods.

Behaviour

Flight

Trails feet in flight. Has a similar outline to Wood Sandpiper.

Breeding

They nest on the ground, usually in open dry locations.

Diet

Their main diet consists of insects, small fish and crustaceans which they gather from shallow water. They sometimes use their bill to agitate the water.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
  4. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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