Greater Yellowlegs on one leg – Nikon D200, handheld, f9, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
When looking at a Greater Yellowlegs there is NO mistaking how they got the name “Yellowlegs”. It is one of the many shorebirds I would see in Florida and also get to see and photograph here in Utah. The Greater Yellowlegs is about 2 to 3 inches larger than the Lesser Yellowlegs, its bill is slight upturned and longer than the Lesser Yellowlegs bill. The length of the bill of the Greater Yellowlegs is about 1 1/2 times the width of the head whereas the length of the Lesser Yellowlegs bill is the width of its head.
Greater Yellowlegs are one of the first shorebirds to head north to their breeding grounds in the spring and among the first to head south after their breeding season is done. They breed in bogs, wet meadows and near shallow water habitats.
Their diet consists of small crustaceans both aquatic and terrestrial, small fish, seeds, berries and frogs.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Greater Yellowlegs photos plus facts and information about this species.