The 2 Yellowlegs

[Richard Stern]

Hi,

I thought people might like to see this image, digiscoped in Wolfville, NS, the other day, to illustrate both Greater and Lesser yellowlegs. There is quite a size differernce even allowing for perspective in this image, and note the relative bill to head proportions.

Richard

[Ron Sprunger]

Are these all matures?

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks for the size comparision image, Richard. This nicely shows the difference between the two.

[Arthur Morris]

I believe that the two greaters are adults molting into basic plumage but that the two leasts are worn juvies. See the contrasting grey notched feathers on the backs of the two greaters....

[Dave Irons]

Artie is right again. The Lessers are juveniles and the Greaters are transitioning adults. During late summer and early fall, using the "messy" vs. "neat" method to assess plumage is typically the fastest way to age shorebirds. I recently published an article on this topic in the BirdFellow online journal:

http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/08/18/messy_vs_neat_ageing_southbound_migrant_shorebirds

I find this method to be the easiest way to explain the ageing of fall shorebirds, especially to those folks who only get out shorebirding once or twice each Fall.

Dave Irons
Content Editor BirdFellow.com

[Arthur Morris]

Artie is right again. The Lessers are juveniles and the Greaters are transitioning adults. During late summer and early fall, using the "messy" vs. "neat" method to assess plumage is typically the fastest way to age shorebirds. I recently published an article on this topic in the BirdFellow online journal:

http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/08/18/messy_vs_neat_ageing_southbound_migrant_shorebirds

I find this method to be the easiest way to explain the ageing of fall shorebirds, especially to those folks who only get out shorebirding once or twice each Fall.

Dave Irons
Content Editor BirdFellow.com

Well said :). We have been looking for someone like you for some time and I truly hope that you stick around.