Small yellow-legged shorebirds. Central California November (1 Viewer)

[Shorebirdidiot]

Is any small shorebird with yellowish legs a Least Sandpiper? The bills on these two yellow-legged birds look so different. Please help. Thanks.

 

[Bewick]

Yes, I think its the angle of the shot that is making the second birds bill seem extremely thin.

 

[lockbreeze926]

Any shorebird that small* in CA with that colour legs is a Least Sandpiper. Agree that the differential appearance is due to light/angle/distance and is a bit deceptive.

(*which you clearly observed it to be, so it's not a question of comparative size; assessing the size of any specific individual can be tricky in a photo, but once clocked as a peep, it will be a Least).

 

[Butty]

Is any small shorebird with yellowish legs a Least Sandpiper?

Depends what you mean by 'small', but... no (eg pectoral sandpiper). Bills in all these photos are fine for least sandpiper: short, with fine and slightly-drooping tip. Bill in pic 2 is open, so looks different.

 

[Shorebirdidiot]

Thanks, everyone, for your help.