Credit: Chuq Von Rospach
North American field guide
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Explore this bird
Identification
Field notes
36 cm (14") Fairly common. Nests on tundra, winters on lakeshores, mudflats, ponds, coastal marshes.
Pigeon-sized. Long bright yellow to orange legs. Long slightly upturned dark bill.
Summer: blackish-brown upperparts spotted with white; sides barred with black; white underside.
Winter: more grayish above, less barring below.
In flight: plain dark wings and light rump.
Lesser Yellowlegs is smaller with shorter bill.
Song: whistled "tew-tew-tew".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Credit: Chuq Von Rospach
Watch and learn
Videos
Greater Yellowlegs at Piermont Pier
Credit: VideoBirderWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
Loading the rebuilt map…
Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.