smittyone@cox.net Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Seen yesterday at Loess Bluffs in NW Missouri. Although it hung out with an Avocet (shown for scale), a pair of Dowitchers, and the ever-present Killdeer, I didn't see any others like it there. Shot under overcast skies, so the colors may be a bit off. Also heavily cr opped. I'm leaning towards Greater Yellowlegs B/C of the bill length to head ratio. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Yes, Greater Yellowlegs. Note that the bill is longer than the head and slightly upturned. The Greater Yellowlegs' plumage is essentially identical to Lesser Yellowlegs; gray upperparts with white speckling, and white belly. Proportions are more important for separating two species; bill longer than the head and slightly upturned. Larger overall size than Lesser Yellowlegs with longer neck, blockier head, and bigger chest 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 In flight, note the only the toes project beyond the tail; on Lesser, more than just the toes projects. The difference between the two is quite similar to that between Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned night-herons. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smittyone@cox.net Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 Thank you gentlemen. I was certain that if it was a Yellowlegs, it was the Greater one. Embarrassingly though, I wasn't even sure it was Yellowlegs at all. They all look like Sandpipers to me, and there's too many different kinds of those too... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 Also note that the tertials extend nearly all the way to the tail tip. On Lesser, the tertials end well up the tail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbutk Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 (edited) On 3/26/2020 at 12:55 PM, smittyone@cox.net said: Thank you gentlemen. I was certain that if it was a Yellowlegs, it was the Greater one. Embarrassingly though, I wasn't even sure it was Yellowlegs at all. They all look like Sandpipers to me, and there's too many different kinds of those too... Anybody, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that Yellowlegs *are* actually Sandpipers ...or of the same family, at least. Otherwise, great information in this discussion; I certainly learned a thing or two, when it comes to IDs. ...Oh, and GREAT photos, too! ? Edited March 28, 2020 by sbutk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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