Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.
I saw this one foraging in a shallow pond earlier in the month. I think it’s a Lesser Yellowlegs, but if I’m wrong let me know! It’s so hard to tell it apart from the Greater Yellowlegs. I’m going on the bill not being too much longer than its head.
I don’t see this type of bird too often so it’s pretty neat when I do. It’s either passing through or hanging out for winter migration.
Fun Facts:
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- Despite their very similar appearance, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are not each other’s closest relatives. Lesser Yellowlegs is more closely related to the much larger Willet.
- Lesser Yellowlegs are known for their steadfast defense of their eggs and chicks. Biologist William Rowan once noted, “they will be perched there as though the safety of the entire universe depended on the amount of noise they made.”
- Both the male and female Lesser Yellowlegs provide parental care to the young, but the female tends to leave the breeding area before the chicks can fly, thus leaving the male to defend the young until fledging.
- The Lesser Yellowlegs saw significant declines due to market hunting for the fashion trade. The species’ tendency to return and hover above wounded flock mates made them easy targets. Populations rebounded when market hunting was banned in the U.S and Canada in the early 20th century.
- The oldest recorded Lesser Yellowlegs was at least 4 years, 11 months old when it was found in South Dakota in 1965. It had been banded in the Lesser Antilles in 1960.
more to come…
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Nice click. The subject as been exposed to light in a mesmerising manner. The content following the photograph has been quite contributing to my shameful lack of infromation about these beauties of nature.
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Thank you so much! I’m still learning about them as well. 😀
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Cool photo of an interesting bird. Our lakes and shorelines are frozen over.
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Thank you, Robert! Ours in the mountains are getting there but, not here in the valley yet.
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😀 I’m glad you like the image. It was a great sighting.
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🙂
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😀
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Thus bird is so amazing 👏
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I think so too! Thank you, Anita!
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Long legged birds are so whimsical. You captured this one’s personality, Deborah. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Hugs.
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Merry Christmas, and thank you so much, Teagan! Hugs right back to you! 🤗🎄
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We have both species here, and sorting them out can be tricky. It can be even more difficult for me, because there are other shorebirds of a similar size — although those yellow legs to help!
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‘do help’
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either way works for me! I knew what you meant. 😍
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Like the Willet! Thank you so much, Linda! The Yellowlegs do help. 😀
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Great sighting and shot, Deborah! I believe it’s a Lesser too, exactly by the same reasoning with the bill the length of the head. 😊
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Thank you so much, Donna especially for the ID help! It can be so tricky!! 😍
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Nice shot, especially with that tricky bright background.
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Thank you, David! The sun was almost behind it so lots of specular highlights were in the water! I just over exposed the shot a bit to bring the Yellowlegs forward. 😀
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Exciting to photograph a seldom seen bird. Nice!
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Thank you, Belinda! It is.😊
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Hi Deb, Gre
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Thank you!!😊
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Interesting waders Deborah we don’t have here, thanks for sharing them.
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I’m glad you liked seeing it, Ashley. Thank you!!
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Handsome guy in a beautiful photo. He’d want that one framed. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Judy! I bet he would! 😀
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Whether Lesser or Greater, that Yellowlegs is one handsome bird. Thanks for the info about this – before now – unknown to me bird. I’m not sure what “market hunting” is but I’m happy it was banned.
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Thank you so much, Janis! My thought was market hunting was for hats and things that their feathers would be used for. I’m glad it’s banned too.
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It looks like a medium yellowlegs to me!
Merry Christmas, Deborah!
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I like that! 😀 Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!!
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A Lovely photo and great information, Deborah
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Nice catch, Deborah! Merry Christmas to you and yours and stay safe!!
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Thank you so much , Gordon! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! Hope to see you in the new year!
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That’s a beautiful bird and a great photo. I love the reflection. Thanks for adding the facts, as I’ve never seen one of these (as far as I know).
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Thank you so much, Dan! Looking at the range map it would be migrating bird for all the US, they keep moving probably why we don’t see too many of them.
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Gorgeous photograph! Beautiful light and spacing!
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Thank you so much, Kendall!
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What a great photo! I love the sparkling light and water in the background. I always find it hard to determine whether it’s a lesser or greater yellow legs unless I see the two of them together. ☺️
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Thank you so much, BJ! Me too and I have never seen any together. 😭
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I have no idea wether this is a lesser or a greater Yellowleg. I do know I find this a wonderful picture, Deborah!
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Thank you so much, Peter! 😀
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Can’t say I’ve heard of any yellowlegs, whether greater or lesser or in between. It’s clear you were happy to glimpse this one.
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Thank you, Steve! I was happy to see it.
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I’m happy with the glimpse as well: especially with its reflection. I love these frozen moments in time that can so easily be missed!
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