Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Image by ‘Wwcsig’ on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Physical: Lesser yellowlegs are beautiful slender shorebirds named for their long, vivid yellow legs.Their usual length is between 10 and 11 inches (25 and 28 cm), and their wingspan is roughly 24 inches (61 cm). Their underparts are white with small, dark stripes on the breast and sides, while their upperparts are grayish-brown.Their medium-length, straight bill has a small tip upturn and is darker throughout.
Habitat: The areas where these birds are frequently seen include marshes, mudflats, and the edges of ponds and lakes. They frequent both freshwater and saltwater habitats while migrating.
Feeding: Small invertebrates, such as insects, crabs, and small mollusks, are what lesser yellowlegs eat most frequently. They often forage by wading in shallow waters, picking off prey from the water’s surface or probing into soft mud.
Breeding: Lesser yellowlegs breed in the boreal forests and wetlands of northern North America. Their nests are typically located on the ground, concealed by vegetation. The female usually lays 3-4 eggs, which are incubated by both parents. After hatching, the chicks are precocial, able to walk and forage shortly after.
