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Lesser Yellowlegs

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Breeding adult
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult

Lesser Yellowlegs by Isaac Grant

Sandpipers

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

ORDER: Charadriiformes
FAMILY: Scolopacidae

HabitatMarshes
FoodAquatic invertebrates
NestingGround
BehaviorProbing
ConservationLow Concern

Basic Description

The Lesser Yellowlegs is a slender, long-legged shorebird that readily shows off the brightly colored legs that give it its name. It is an active feeder, often running through the shallow water to chase its prey.

image of range map for Lesser Yellowlegs

Range map provided by Birds of North AmericaExplore Maps

Other Names

Archibebe Patigualdo Chico (Spanish)
Petit Chevalier (French)

Cool Facts
- 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 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.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Greater Yellowlegs Breeding adult is similar to Lesser Yellowlegs

Greater YellowlegsBreeding adult

Greater Yellowlegs Juvenile is similar to Lesser Yellowlegs

Greater YellowlegsJuvenile

Solitary Sandpiper Breeding adult is similar to Lesser Yellowlegs

Solitary Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper Juvenile with Lesser Yellowlegs is similar to Lesser Yellowlegs

Stilt Sandpiper

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Species in This Family

Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family:Scolopacidae)

Upland Sandpiper

Upland Sandpiper

Long-billed Curlew

Long-billed Curlew

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone

Black Turnstone

Black Turnstone

Stilt Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher

American Woodcock

American Woodcock

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Spotted Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler

Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Browse Species in This Family

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