Greater Yellowlegs Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesGreater Yellowlegs
Breeding adult
Slender, long-necked, and small-headed shorebird with bright yellow legs. Breeding birds have heavy barring on the flanks, sometimes extending across the belly.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 11, 2017Nonbreeding/immature
Slender shorebird with a small head and bright yellow legs. The bill is long and slightly upturned. Juveniles are browner above with crisp markings.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 18, 2014Breeding adult
Call is a string of three or four sharp, high-pitched notes. Note slightly upturned bill more than 1.5x as long as the head.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 2007Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding/immature
In flight, note white rump and plain wings.
© Becky Matsubara / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 27, 2020Nonbreeding/immature
Juveniles are browner above with crisp markings. Note bright yellow legs and long bill. Stands upright.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 19, 2016Breeding adult
Tall and gangly shorebird with bright yellow legs and a long bill. Breeding birds often have heavily streaked underparts. Stands upright.
© Dorrie Holmes / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 16, 2016Breeding adult
Breeds in wet bogs with small wooded islands, and forests with wet clearings covered with mosses and lichens.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 11, 2017Habitat
Winters in wide variety of shallow fresh and saltwater habitats.
© Tony V / Macaulay LibraryWashington, November 21, 2016Similar SpeciesLesser Yellowlegs
Breeding adult
Lesser Yellowlegs are smaller with a shorter and thinner bill than Greater Yellowlegs although size can be difficult to judge on single birds. Breeding Lesser Yellowlegs have fewer markings on the flanks than breeding Greater Yellowlegs.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, April 29, 2017Similar SpeciesLesser Yellowlegs
Nonbreeding adult
Lesser Yellowlegs are smaller with a shorter and thinner bill than Greater Yellowlegs. Nonbreeding birds have less streaking on the neck than nonbreeding Greater Yellowlegs.
© Fernando Farias / Macaulay LibraryParaná, April 01, 2017Similar SpeciesSolitary Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Solitary Sandpipers are smaller than Greater Yellowlegs with olive (not yellow) legs. They also have white spots on the back while Greater Yellowlegs have more mottling on the back.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 17, 2013Similar SpeciesStilt Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Stilt Sandpipers are smaller than Greater Yellowlegs with a slightly drooping bill (the bill on Greater Yellowlegs is slightly upturned).
© Christian Fernandez / Macaulay LibraryTexas, October 14, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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