Lesser Yellowlegs: Secrets, Stats, and Surprising Facts (2024)

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The Lesser Yellowlegs is a medium-sized shorebird with a standout feature: bright yellow legs that contrast with its dull plumage.

These birds breed in open boreal forests and migrate to marshes and mudflats, where they feed on insects, small fish, and crustaceans.

They’re social and vocal, often flocking and communicating with high-pitched "pee-wee" calls.

Despite past population declines, conservation efforts have helped, and they’re now listed as a species of "least concern."

Stay tuned to learn more about their fascinating behaviours and unique characteristics.

Habitat and Food

Where do these birds hang out, and what’s on their menu? From breeding grounds to dining preferences, let’s explore the habitats and dietary habits of the Lesser Yellowlegs.

Breeding Habitat

Lesser Yellowlegs breed in open boreal forests with scattered shallow wetlands. These wetlands provide the ideal habitat for their nesting and foraging needs. They’re often found in marshes, mudflats, and flooded fields during migration, taking advantage of the abundant food sources in these wetland habitats.

Wintering Grounds

When the weather turns chilly, these feathered friends head south to their wintering grounds, seeking shelter and sustenance. Here’s what you need to know about their winter hangouts:

1. Shallow, weedy wetlands
2. Freshwater and saltwater habitats
3. North America and beyond
4. climate change concerns

Diet and Foraging

Lesser Yellowlegs are real foodies when it comes to aquatic invertebrates. They probe mud and water with their long, thin bills to find insects, small fish, and crustaceans.

Identification and Appearance

Now, let’s move on to the fun part: identifying this unique bird. Get ready to spot the subtle differences that set the Lesser Yellowlegs apart from its feathered friends.

With its bright yellow legs, slender build, and dark wings, this shorebird is a real looker. But it’s not just about good looks; you’ll also want to pay attention to its size, shape, and distinctive markings.

Bright Yellow Legs

The Lesser Yellowlegs’ most distinctive feature is its bright yellow legs, which contrast starkly with its otherwise dull plumage. This sandpiper, Tringa flavipes, really stands out from the crowd with this bold splash of color.

Thin Bill and Dainty Build

Now, let’s talk about the thin bill and dainty build of this shorebird. The Lesser Yellowlegs has a slender, pointed bill that’s often shorter than its Greater Yellowlegs cousin. Its body is small-headed and slender, with long legs.

Variable Breast Streaking

The Lesser Yellowlegs’ breast streaking varies depending on its life stage. Breeding adults sport streaky breasts, while non-breeding adults and juveniles have sparse, smudgy streaks.

Size and Shape

Now, let’s take a closer look at the size and shape of these fascinating birds. The Lesser Yellowlegs is a medium-sized shorebird with a slender build, long legs, and a thin, pointed bill. Here are some key points to note:

1. Medium-Sized Shorebird
2. Slender Body
3. Cap-Headed Appearance in Juveniles

Behavior

Now, let’s get a closer look at the fascinating behavior of these feathered friends. From foraging habits to social interactions, we’ll uncover the unique ways of the Lesser Yellowlegs.

Foraging and Feeding

Lesser Yellowlegs are pro beaks-in-the-mud kinda birds. They poke around in shallow water and wetlands for aquatic insects, small fish, and crustaceans.

Flocking and Social Behavior

Lesser Yellowlegs are social birds that often flock together, creating dynamic groups with other shorebirds during migration. They find safety in numbers, and these flocks can vary in size, from intimate gatherings to large communities.

Vocalizations and Communication

Lesser Yellowlegs communicate with a range of vocalizations. Their call is a high-pitched "pee-wee." They also use loud noises to scare off predators.

Breeding Season and Nesting

The breeding season is when these birds get down to business. They breed in open boreal forests with scattered shallow wetlands, creating nests and defending their turf.

Breeding and Nesting

Now, let’s take a closer look at the breeding and nesting habits of these fascinating birds. We’ll explore where they build their nests, how they care for their young, and some fun facts about their reproduction.

Nest Placement and Description

Lesser Yellowlegs carefully select their nest sites, opting for wet meadows. You’ll often find their nests on the ground, nestled within low shrubs or dry grass.

Parental Care and Incubation

Both male and female lesser yellowlegs share parenting duties. They’re also loud – making lots of noise to deter predators and protect their eggs and chicks. But it’s not all about teamwork. The female often leaves the breeding area before the chicks can fly, leaving the male to defend them solo.

• Both parents chip in for chick-rearing.
• These birds aren’t shy about making a ruckus to protect their young.
• The male is left to defend the chicks alone once the female takes off.

Nesting Facts and Reproduction

Lesser Yellowlegs typically lay 4 eggs, sometimes 3. The eggs are buff to yellowish or gray, marked with brown blotches. Both parents share the duty of incubating the eggs, which hatch after about 22-23 days.

Conservation Status

Now, let’s turn our attention to the conservation status of these vibrant-legged birds. It’s important to understand the challenges they face and the actions being taken to protect them.

Population Decline and Threats

The Lesser Yellowlegs population has faced a decline, landing it on the Yellow Watch List. Here are three key factors contributing to this:

1. The species’ unique flocking behaviour, where they return and hover above wounded flockmates, made them vulnerable to hunters.
2. Climate change is an emerging threat, with potential range shifts as temperatures rise.
3. Other indirect pressures have impacted their numbers.

Habitat Loss and Hunting

The population decline of the Lesser Yellowlegs is attributed to habitat loss, especially in wetlands and marshes, along with the hunting for the fashion trade in the early 20th century.

Conservation Efforts and Recovery

While the Lesser Yellowlegs population faced threats due to wetland loss and hunting, it’s now stable, with a "least concern" status. Conservation efforts, like banning market hunting, helped these birds rebound.

Migration and Range

Want to know where these lively shorebirds roam? Let’s take a closer look at their migration patterns and the ranges they cover during their travels.

Migration Patterns and Routes

Migration is the prime time to spot these birds in the US and southern Canada. They frequent shallow marshes, mudflats, and flooded fields during their spring and fall migrations.

Breeding and Wintering Ranges

The breeding grounds of the Lesser Yellowlegs are found in the open boreal forests of Canada, specifically in meadows and open woodlands. During the winter, they migrate south, with their range extending all the way to South America.

1. Breeding Range: Boreal Canada
2. Wintering Range: South America
3. Habitat: Open Boreal Forest with Shallow Wetlands
4. Migration: North America to South America

EBird Abundance Map and Tracking

eBird offers an animated abundance map that shows their migration patterns and range. This citizen science data helps birders track their movement and find the best spots to observe them during migration.

Interesting Facts and Trivia

Now, let’s take a closer look at some fun facts about these fascinating birds. Get ready to impress your bird-watching buddies with trivia that goes beyond the basics.

Lifespan and Longevity

The oldest recorded Lesser Yellowlegs was at least 4 years and 11 months old. That’s a pretty good innings for a small shorebird, but it doesn’t tell us the average lifespan or how long they can live in captivity.

Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation

While the Lesser Yellowlegs has a stable population, climate change poses a potential threat. As temperatures rise, their range is expected to shift. This could lead to:

1. Habitat shifts and the need to adapt to new environments.
2. Changes in freshwater availability and wetland ecosystems, impacting their foraging grounds.
3. Altered migration patterns and timing, affecting their overall life cycle.
4. Increased conservation efforts to protect and restore key habitats, ensuring their long-term survival.

Unique Characteristics and Behavior

Lesser Yellowlegs are known for their unique foraging behaviour, probing mud and shallow water for insects and small invertebrates.

They’re often seen hanging out with other shorebirds, and have a distinct high-pitched "pee-wee" call.

These birds breed in open boreal forests and spend winters in a variety of freshwater and saltwater habitats.

They’re also commonly found foraging in mudflats and along shorelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)