11/24/02 San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside County, CA
1/17/05 Greater Yellowlegs (center). Marina Point, Morro Bay State Park, San Luis Obispo County, CA
LIFE LIST NOTES:
COMMON NAME: Greater Yellowlegs
COMMON NAME: Greater Yellowlegs
SPECIES: Tringa melanoleuca
LIFE LIST DATE: 11/24/2002
LOCATION: San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside County, CA
From Stokes Field Guide to Birds-Western Region & Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of NA
HABITAT: Wading in shallow waters, sometimes dashing about, yellowlegs look trim, alert. The species overlaps widely. Greater is more likely to be seen in cold weather.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: 14"; Long yellow to orange legs; whitish marks on dark upper parts. Distinguish from similar Lesser Yellowlegs by size when they are together. Greater's bill is about 1 1/2 times the length of its head; Lesser's bill is about equal to the length of its head. Summer: head and neck heavily streaked with black, sides heavily barred with black. Winter: grayish overall with faint streaking on head and neck; dark bill is gray at base.
IDENTIFYING MARKS: 14"; Long yellow to orange legs; whitish marks on dark upper parts. Distinguish from similar Lesser Yellowlegs by size when they are together. Greater's bill is about 1 1/2 times the length of its head; Lesser's bill is about equal to the length of its head. Summer: head and neck heavily streaked with black, sides heavily barred with black. Winter: grayish overall with faint streaking on head and neck; dark bill is gray at base.
VOICE: Descending series of 3-4 notes, like whew whew whew.
*Per the docents at the 2005 Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, Greaters are more common than Lessers. Calls will also distinguish them: Greater's call is whee whee whee while Lesser's has a softer 2-3 note call tu tu.
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