5 replies to this topic

[Benjamin DeHaven]

Hello again!

This image is another in the series from Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware from 7.8.12. Obviously we have two Snowy Egrets here. Based on what I know the small brown bird is a Lesser Yellowlegs (right?). Next to it is a black or green bird that is causing me some trouble. It seems too small to be a Black-necked Stilt based on the Lesser Yellowlegs size. Other than that I don't know what shorebird it could be. Plus you can make out the beak against the white of the reflection and the beak doesn't scream shorebird to me. In fact, the head says duck to me. But the legs seem to be too long for duck and the coloration doesn't seem to be any duck that I can recognize when comparing to known images online.

What do I have here and was I at least thinking through the problem correctly?





Thanks!

Benjamin DeHaven
Timonium, Maryland

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I think you've got a Greater (right) and Lesser Yellowlegs (left). You can make out the bill shape pretty well and the legs are definitely bright yellow. Since its bigger than the Lesser, that rules out Solitary.

[Benjamin DeHaven]

But the back looks to be a solid dark (black) color. I haven't come across any examples like that online. I understand the camera blur / shake / heat lines will all blur and smooth out any patterns but I just don't see it being solid. What am I missing?

Benjamin DeHaven
Timonium, MD

[TheBillyPilgrim]

The backs of these guys get pretty dark during breeding season and their patterning is very fine. Your camera isn't resolving the fine spotting on the back (the picture quality is pretty poor, so its likely pushed to its limit) and is instead just showing it as a solid, dark gray.

With that size, shape, and leg color there isn't really anything else it could be.

[Benjamin DeHaven]

Good to know, I will file that in my "shorebird id notes". I also thought the size difference between a greater and a lesser was more dramatic, might have to go look at a few images again now that I have a confirmed baseline.

Thanks!

Benjamin DeHaven
Timonium, MD

[TheBillyPilgrim]

The size difference between the two can actually be quite problematic. A lot of people have difficulty distinguishing the two species in the field if both aren't present for comparison. We get a lot of "Is this a Lesser or Greater Yellowlegs?" questions on here