- Tringa flavipes
Identification
23-25cm
- 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 supercillium
Similar Species
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.
Distribution
Breeds in Alaska, Canada and the United States. Winters 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
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Lesser Yellowlegs. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Yellowlegs
