Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Very similar to the Greater Yellowlegs, the Lesser Yellowlegs is about half the weight of the Greater. The bill length is shorter, and about equal to the width of its head, while the Greater’s bill is about one-and-a-half times the length of its head. Nesting for this bird is more northward, as far as Alaska, northern Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada. Their winter range is more southerly than its larger cousin, extending over the entire South American continent. I met this bird often on its nesting grounds when I was traveling through the Yukon and Alaska.
At a distance and without a reliable size comparison, differentiating the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs is a tricky proposition. While the general appearance of each bird is similar, the Lesser Yellowlegs is smaller and the bill length is shorter, relative to the head. Their vocalizations are nearly the same, though some have observed the calls of the Greater Yellowlegs is harsher, and louder and clearer, than the Lesser Yellowlegs.

Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 13:23 |
Location:
W F V Z |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4470-LesserYellowLegs |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 13:25 |
Location:
W F V Z |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4474-LesserYellowLegs |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 13:27 |
Location:
W F V Z |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4478-LesserYellowLegs |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Two Moose Lake Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-20. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:20 12:01 |
Location:
Eagle Plains |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD5677LesserYellowLegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Ogilvie River Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-28. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 13:52 |
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 310 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD6250LesserYellowlegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Ogilvie River Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-28. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 13:57 |
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD6282LesserYellowlegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) Ogilvie River Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-28. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 14:15 |
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 440 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6318LesserYellowlegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) North Fork Pass, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:29 12:10 |
Location:
Glenboyle |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 450 mm, f/13.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6783LesserYellowLegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) North Fork Pass, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:29 12:10 |
Location:
Glenboyle |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/13.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6791LesserYellowLegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: (Tringa flavipes) North Fork Pass, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:29 12:30 |
Location:
Glenboyle |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 380 mm, f/9.5, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6883LesserYellowLegs |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: Dempster Highway, Ogilvie River Area, Yukon, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 13:57 |
Location:
Ogilvie River Valley |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: Sketch_JCD6282LesserYellowlegs |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: At Milepost 103 Km on the Dempster Highway is Two Moose Lake. Yukon Territory, Canada where we found more Lesser Yellowlegs perched in small trees. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:20 12:01 |
Location:
Two Moose Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD5677LesserYellowLegs |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: Lots of these birds were met along this route on the Dempster Highway, Ogilvie River Area, Yukon, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 14:15 |
Location:
Ogilvie River Valley |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 440 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6318LesserYellowlegs |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: Dirty Socks Spring at the southern edge of the Owens Lake Basin, between Lone Pine and Olancha. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:21 6:48 |
Location:
Dirty Socks Spring |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728112-LesserYellowLegs |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: There weren’t many shorebirds on the marsh, but this Lesser Yellowlegs was a pleasant addition to the company in attendance. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 15:47 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X7306-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
Description: There weren’t many shorebirds on the marsh, but this Lesser Yellowlegs was a pleasant addition to the company in attendance. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 15:47 |
Location:
Convention Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X7329-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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