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To the Beauty of Birds

The Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes is a medium-sized shorebird similar in appearance to the larger Greater Yellowlegs. However, it is not closely related to this bird, but instead to the much larger and quite dissimilar Willet.

The features that distinguish the Greater from Lesser Yellowlegs are related to size, bill structure, body appearance, and call. These contrasts as follows:
Size: LY 10 – 11 in, GY 14-15 in.
Wingspan: LY 24 in, GY 28 in.
Bill: LY about the size of the head width.
GY longer than head width.
Body: LY more delicate in appearance, GY more compact.
Call: LY Short, mellow repeating tew-tew, often only repeated 2 or 3 times. GY Louder, harsher whee-whee-whee, usually 3 to 5 notes.

These photos were taken at the 8-mile road and Sportsman Road site (see home page).

See also the MOVIE page for a dipper-like behavior of the Lesser Yellowlegs.

Lesser Yellowlegs

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