Birds of Interior Alaska Waders & Shorebirds: Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes During nesting season the spruce/tundra bog near our home rings with the call of shorebirds. Snipe are making their swooping dives; I love that sound! Yellowlegs and sandpipers are "Tew, tew-ing" to their heart's content. It is not terribly difficult to find our shorebirds, just look up! Several thoughts run through my mind when I see wading birds atop 30 foot tall spruce trees in spring: "Whoa, this is going to be some flood!" "Hmm, they DO make nice ornaments!" and... "I'd love to be here with my camera when a Peregrine or Goshawk comes through!" Lesser Yellowlegs have longer legs than a Solitary Sandpiper and eye rings are less distinct and incomplete. If you live in a region with Greater Yellowlegs its time to study your field guide! The Lesser Yellowlegs are smaller than the Greaters and have a fairly consistently dark bill. I know this. I still get them confused. Take your field guide with you. Better yet--take a professional guide. Notice the swelling in their throats. These are not goiters, they are just calling with everything they have! Pretty easy to hear this bird--translate "Which pocket are my ear plugs in?" I admire this yellowleg's balance, poise, and dedication to becoming the single most visible small prey item on the tundra! It landed and immediately stepped up as high as it could. We have a Winner! ©J.Gilbert 6/2001 Back to: Top | Birds of Interior Alaska | Mr. G's classroom site All photos and narratives contained in this document and/or in the Birds of Interior Alaska website were created and copyrighted by ©Jim Gilbert. 3/2005.