Yellowlegs Lesser and Greater? Northern Ontario

[Buddym]

East of Sudbury Ontario.  The smaller is Lesser and the bigger one is a Greater yellowlegs?   Thanks :)

[Inastrangeland]

Both look like greaters to me.  A upturn of the bill in the front one says greater, and the one behind it looks very similar.  My thought is that the back one may appear smaller, only because it further away.  My 2 cents.....

[Inastrangeland]

Sorry, I missed the front one (ie. Left one).  THAT one looks like a lesser.  So:

front left, lesser

middle, greater

back right, greater

 

[The Bird Nuts]

I agree with Lesser and Greater for the left and middle birds.  But the one in the back looks like a Lesser to me - proportions, plumage, and bill length seem to match the Lesser in the front better.

[akiley]

2 hours ago, The Bird Nuts said:

I agree with Lesser and Greater for the left and middle birds.  But the one in the back looks like a Lesser to me - proportions, plumage, and bill length seem to match the Lesser in the front better.

I agree with this. Greater in the middle and Lessers on the left and the right.

Overall shape/structure is a good clue for identifying yellowlegs, and is especially helpful when you have both species together like this.

Edited August 14, 2018 by akiley