sbruenjes Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 I saw these birds yesterday at DeKorte park in Northern New Jersey. Is there any way to definitively identify them as either lesser or greater yellowlegs? In the last picture, the bird on the left seems to lack the spotting of a yellow legs so I don't know what that bird is.. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) 1-5 Greater 6 Looks like a Ruff! I believe there Greater's aswell 1 might be a lesser, bill seems pretty short, also the left bird on 6 Edited May 16, 2020 by Connor Cochrane 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 When I saw a Ruff at the Salton Sea it looked very similar. Fluffed weathers on back, down curved bill, Buffy color. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 1-5 Greater 6 Looks like a Ruff! I believe there Greater's as well agreed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbruenjes Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 That is exciting, thank you all! How come I don't see a Ruff on the Cornell All About Birds site? Is this a bird not common in North America? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 20 minutes ago, sbruenjes said: That is exciting, thank you all! How come I don't see a Ruff on the Cornell All About Birds site? Is this a bird not common in North America? Ruff is a Eurasian sandpiper. It strays to North America fairly often, maybe 30 to the US in a year, but still a very cool and good bird to see. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I like Lesser for 1-4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbruenjes Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Thank you! I'm still trying to see if I can find a way to differentiate the greater from the lesser. In my judgement, on pic 5, the bills seem longer and the flecking seems to extend farther down the breast. They also seem a little stockier to me which seems most likely to be greater. I thought the most likely to be lesser was number 1 for the opposite reasons. I know angles and distance make this difficult though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Here are my thoughts on the yellowlegs: Lesser Greater Greater Lesser Greater Lesser 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I defer to the experts. I can see 2-3 as Greater. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Definitely a Ruff. Very cool! good call @Connor Cochrane 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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