Lesser Yellowlegs Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesLesser Yellowlegs
Breeding adult
Dainty shorebird with bright yellow legs and a thin bill. Breeding birds have variable amounts of streaking on the breast with only a bit of barring on the flanks.
© Caleb Putnam / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 04, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Small-headed and dainty shorebird with bright yellow legs and a thin bill. Nonbreeding birds have sparse streaking on the neck that often looks smudgy.
© Fernando Farias / Macaulay LibraryParaná, April 01, 2017Nonbreeding adult
Slender shorebird with long legs and a fairly long bill, although typically shorter and more slender than Greater Yellowlegs' bill. This video has no audio.
© Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 30, 2014Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Medium-sized, dainty shorebird with a thin bill and bright yellow legs. Juveniles have less distinct markings on the breast, which tends to make the breast look smudgy.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 13, 2016Juvenile
Slender shorebird with a thin bill. Juveniles often have fine spotting on the back and a cap-headed look.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 13, 2016Juvenile
In flight, note white rump and plain wings.
© Ian Campbell / Macaulay LibraryArkansas, September 26, 2020Breeding adult
Breeds in open boreal forest with scattered shallow wetlands. Winters in a wide variety of shallow fresh and saltwater habitats.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, July 18, 2017Similar SpeciesGreater Yellowlegs
Breeding adult
Greater Yellowlegs are larger with a longer and thicker bill than Lesser Yellowlegs. Breeding birds have more extensive streaking on the flanks than breeding Lesser Yellowlegs.
© Albert Linkowski / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 17, 2017Similar SpeciesGreater Yellowlegs
Juvenile
Greater Yellowlegs are larger with a longer and thicker bill than Lesser Yellowlegs. Juveniles have more distinct streaking on the breast than Lesser Yellowlegs, which looks smudgier.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 18, 2014Similar SpeciesSolitary Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Solitary Sandpipers are smaller than Lesser Yellowlegs. They have a more prominent eyering and duller legs than Lesser Yellowlegs.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 17, 2013Similar SpeciesStilt Sandpiper
Juvenile with Lesser Yellowlegs
Stilt Sandpipers are smaller than Lesser Yellowlegs with a drooping bill (Lesser Yellowlegs have a straight bill).
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 08, 2012Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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