The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Bird Identification › Is this a Greater Yellow legs?

    • David
      Participant
      Chirps: 53
      Is this a greater yellow legs I saw this in caballo lake New MexicoIMG_0417 (2)
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    • Lee Ann van Leer
      Moderator
      Chirps: 112
      Hello David, This is a tough one but it is a Greater Yellowlegs.  If you measure the bill it is somewhat longer than the width of the head. If you hold a straight edge up against the bill you see that the end portion of the bill is turned up ever so slightly. Also the end of its bill looks more blunt relative to the pointer appearance of the tip of the Lesser Yellowlegs. If you want more expert tips like this consider taking our online archived webinar series. Be a Better Birder: Shorebird Identification Archived Live Series FYI: We will be coming out with a new and improved Shorebird ID full length course next year. Anyone that purchased the archived series will typically be offered a discount on purchasing the more detailed course when it comes out. Although the archived webinar series is pretty detailed too. The full course will add more diagrams, studio quality lecture videos, and practice tools. -Lee Ann van Leer Bird Academy Project Assistant
      • Margaret
        Participant
        Chirps: 2
        Hi Lee Ann, I'm finishing up the Shorebird Identification course right now and I found it to be super-helpful. In fact, thanks to this course, I was able to identify a Long-Billed Dowitcher, the first confirmed sighting at Huntley Meadows in Alexandria, Virginia. Apparently when the bird showed up there was general consensus that it was a Short-Billed Dowitcher. But one expert birder questioned that and took it upon himself to consult with a few other known experts. He told me that the way that I annotated my photos was extremely useful in confirming the identification as a Long-Billed Dowitcher. So there you have it! Please thank the instructor Kevin McGowan for me. Margaret
    • Matthew
      Participant
      Chirps: 8
      That's for sure a greater yellowlegs.
    • Annabeth
      Participant
      Chirps: 107
      It might be a Lesser yellowlegs.