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 length 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 than its larger cousin, as far as Alaska, northern Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada. Their winter range is more southerly than the Greater Yellowlegs and extends over the entire South American continent.
The vocalizations of both birds are nearly the same, though some observers claim the calls of the Greater Yellowlegs are harsher, louder and clearer, than the Lesser Yellowlegs.
I met these birds often on their nesting grounds when I traveled through the Yukon and Alaska in 2005. I will long remember them perching prominently and singing from the tops of the tallest Black Spruce trees found in the Arctic, most of which are only six-to-ten feet tall.
Those of us living in the southern USA are fortunate for our opportunities to meet migrating birds, some of which stay through the non-breeding season. San Diego County, where I’m from, is such a place, as is South Texas.
Today’s science regards the Lesser Yellowlegs as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: (Tringa flavipes) Ogilvie River Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-28. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 13:52 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 310 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD6250LesserYellowlegs |
| © 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: (Tringa flavipes) Ogilvie River Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-28. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 13:57 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD6282LesserYellowlegs |
| © 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: (Tringa flavipes) Ogilvie River Area, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-28. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 14:15 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 440 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6318LesserYellowlegs |
| © 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: (Tringa flavipes) North Fork Pass, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:29 12:10 |
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Location:
Glenboyle |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 450 mm, f/13.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6783LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: (Tringa flavipes) North Fork Pass, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:29 12:10 |
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Location:
Glenboyle |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/13.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6791LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: (Tringa flavipes) North Fork Pass, Dempster Highway, Yukon, Canada 2005-06-29. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:29 12:30 |
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Location:
Glenboyle |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 380 mm, f/9.5, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6883LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Dempster Highway, Ogilvie River Area, Yukon, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 13:57 |
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Location:
Ogilvie River Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 390 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: Sketch_JCD6282LesserYellowlegs |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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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 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4470-LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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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 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4474-LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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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 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4478-LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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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 |
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Location:
Two Moose Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD5677LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca) |
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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 |
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Location:
Dirty Socks Spring |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728112-LesserYellowLegs |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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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 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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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) |
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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 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X7329-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:43 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D501650-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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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 15:46 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X7294-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs wandered in the marshes near the Convention Centre. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:11 13:42 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X1799-SPI_ConventionCentre |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Both yellowlegs species were present at the resaca during my visit. Hunter Lane is at the far side of the park, two miles from the Resaca de la Palma Visitor Center. It is the most reliable place in the reserve to find standing water, and my favorite place to enjoy birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:21 12:47 |
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Location:
Resaca de la Palma |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X4728-ResacaDeLaPalma |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Soon these Lesser Yellowlegs will head north, perhaps even to the Yukon. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 18:17 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X9429-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Soon these Lesser Yellowlegs will head north, perhaps even to the Yukon. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 18:14 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X9343-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Soon these Lesser Yellowlegs will head north, perhaps even to the Yukon. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 18:12 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X9303-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Soon these Lesser Yellowlegs will head north, perhaps even to the Yukon. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 16:39 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X9128-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Lesser Yellowlegs vastly outnumbered Greater Yellowlegs on the marsh. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 14:59 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X2689-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Lesser Yellowlegs vastly outnumbered Greater Yellowlegs on the marsh. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 14:59 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X2686-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes) |
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Description: Lesser Yellowlegs have a long journey ahead to reach their breeding grounds. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 9:16 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LesserYellowlegs_D5X2186_SPI-ConventionCentre |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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