lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 8.75 inches

• Medium-sized long-legged shorebird

• Fairly long, thin, straight bill

• Dark bill rarely has a slightly paler base

• Bill length roughly equal to head length

• Bright yellow legs

• White tail crossed with thin black bars

• Juvenile similar to basic-plumaged adult

• Sexes similar

Adult alternate:

• Head, neck, and chest are finely streaked with black on a pale ground

• Whitish supercilium and eyering, dusky lores

• Flanks are barred finely with dusky

• Whitish belly

• Back and upperwings dark brown, dappled with black and white

• White notches on wing feathers appear as white spots on back

Adult basic:

• Head and neck pale, streaked sparsely with brown

• Breast, and to a lesser extent, flanks, streaked and spotted with gray-brown

• Dark brown back with pale flecks and feather edges

• Buff notches on wing feathers appear as white spots on back

Similar species:

Solitary sandpiper is smaller, shorter-billed and has a bolder eye ring,
a dark rump, and green legs. The greater yellowlegs is very similar
but is larger, with a slightly upturned and proportionately longer bill.
In alternate plumage the lesser is more finely streaked about the head,
neck, and flanks. The safest way to distinguish the two is the call: a
harsh series of three or more notes in greater yellowlegs versus a
softer, mellower single or double note of the lesser yellowlegs.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: N/A
Breeding Habitat: N/A
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 4
Length of Incubation: 22-23? days
Days to Fledge: 18-20(?)
Number of Broods: 1?
Diet: Primarily insects aquatic invertebrates, fish

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May R
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November Acc

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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