Shorebird ID -

[chica]

Thinking yellow-legs - lesser - but not enough spotting and color of legs is questionably 'yellow' - lots of algae on feet (maybe legs).  Bigger than a spotted sandpiper - which I'm very familiar with.

Taken in Milwaukee WI - May 10.

 

thanks for your help

 

[The Bird Nuts]

"Not enough spotting and color of legs is questionably 'yellow'" is correct - this is a Solitary Sandpiper. 

[Jerry Friedman]

Welcome to Whatbird!  I agree with Solitary Sandpiper.

[chica]

Hmmmm ...  well - there certainly seems to be a consensus on solitary sandpiper.  Both NG and Sibley show much more streaking on the  breast and sides (edges of sides really);  and that kinda threw me; and there just aren't that many spots!.  I'm not usually stumped but this one got me! 

Thanks so much

chica

[millipede]

from a distance, spotted and solitary can be a little tough to separate... behavior can be similar... flight, flushed from one side of a pond to another, is similar.
In flight, the spotted has white down the wings and the solitary does not. The spotted has a good eye-line while the solitary has an eye-ring... the solitary can also have something of a two-toned bill... something I've not noticed on yellowlegs.
Up close I'm finding them easy but at a distance it takes a bit more effort.

All that to say I concur...  solitary.