Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs (1 Viewer)

Alan henry

Well-known member

• Dec 11, 2011

• #1

I found this Yellowlegs this afternoon and not sure what one it is, it seemed massive compared to the two Lessers that I have seen in the last couple of months but the bill length is worrying me a bit as it does not seem that long to previous Greaters that I have seen.

Cheers

Alan
www.surfbirds.com/blog/falklandbirder

 

Attachments

• 
  Yellowlegs 1.jpg

  70.7 KB · Views: 181
• 
  Yellowlegs 2.jpg

  92.1 KB · Views: 142
• 
  Yellowlegs 3.jpg

  109.3 KB · Views: 145

birder of the south

Formerly Lee Fuller

• Dec 11, 2011

• #2

does look quite big for a lesser I'd say greater

 

apbarr

Well-known member

• Dec 11, 2011

• #3

Bill length appears quite short and straight so I'd go with Lesser

 

birder of the south

Formerly Lee Fuller

• Dec 11, 2011

• #4

must admit looking at the third pic bill is rather slim

 

Alan henry

Well-known member

• Dec 11, 2011

• #5

Thanks for the comments guys,

I was convinced it was a Greater when I first saw it because of it size, it really did seem much much larger than the two Lesser Yellowlegs that I have seen in the last few weeks. It is the bill length that really is the problem for me.

Attached is another shot.

Cheers

Alan
www.surfbirds.com/blog/falklandbirder

 

Attachments

• 
  Yellowlegs 4.jpg

  84 KB · Views: 132

grebefeet9

elegant tern of phrase

• Dec 12, 2011

• #6

pale base of bill is definite mark for greater

 

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Dec 12, 2011

• #7

grebefeet9 said:

pale base of bill is definite mark for greater

Click to expand...

Agreed.

 

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Dec 12, 2011

• #8

grebefeet9 said:

pale base of bill is definite mark for greater

Click to expand...

This is true but Lesser also have a hint of yellow/brown at base. This bird has a lot of yellow showing which suggests Greater non-breeding. The bill is of similar length to width of head and does not appear to be upturned which suggests Lesser. Did you see it fly Alan? Were the legs trailing? I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that is a trait for Lesser.

Andy

 

birder of the south

Formerly Lee Fuller

• Dec 12, 2011

• #9

still stick with greater I think tho the bill length is the problem here, certainly looks more like the greater i saw a few weeks back than any lessers iv seen

 

F

f .hopkin

f .hopkin

• Dec 12, 2011

• #10

No doubt, Greater yellowlegs!!