Lesser yellowlegs

Lesser yellowlegs
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Scolopacidae
Genus:	Tringa
Species:	T. flavipes
Binomial name
Tringa flavipes (Gmelin, 1789)
Synonyms
Totanus flavipes

The lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) is a medium-sized shorebird similar in appearance to the larger greater yellowlegs, although it is more closely related to the much larger willet; the fine, clear and dense pattern of the neck shown in breeding plumage indicates these species' actual relationships.

A medium-large shorebird, the lesser yellowlegs measures 27 cm (11 in). The legs are yellow. Compared to the greater yellowlegs, the bill is shorter (visually about the same length as the head), slim, straight, and uniformly dark. The breast is streaked and the flanks are finely marked with short bars.

Their breeding habitat is clearings near ponds in the boreal forest region from Alaska to Quebec. They nest on the ground, usually in open dry locations.

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.

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.

Gallery

• Lesser Yellowlegs chicks.JPG

  Chicks

Sources

• Janovy, John Jr. (1980) "Yellowlegs". St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-89643-3

External links

• Lesser yellowlegs species account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Lesser yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
• Tringa flavipes on Avibase
• Lesser yellowlegs videos, photos, and sounds at the Internet Bird Collection
• Lesser yellowlegs photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
• Interactive range map of Tringa flavipes at IUCN Red List maps