Greater Yellowlegs

(Tringa melanoleuca)

Conservation Status
Greater Yellowlegs
Photo by Mike Poeppe
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRM - Unranked Migrant

 
  Minnesota

not listed

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

13 to 15 in length

28 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Almost all wetlands

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Late March to early May and late June to early November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common migrant

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies)  
 

Family

Scolopacidae (sandpipers and allies)  
 

Genus

Tringa (shanks, tattlers, and allies)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
 

Green-winged Teal Dark and a...

Greater Yellowlegs…I think. May 4, 2023 rural Norman Co. Mn. The little green-winged was dunking itself at times and splashing around in the water. The yellowlegs was just kind of in the same area.

  Green-winged Teal  
           
 

Maybe Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs....

… Seen them Oct. 22, 2022 at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. The larger ones were vocal making sounds at times. The two smaller ones just took a bath and dried themselves off. I didn’t hear them make any sounds.

  Greater Yellowlegs  
           
 

I think some kind of Sandpipers....

one was quite a bit larger than the other yet the smaller one followed the larger one

  Greater Yellowlegs  
 

Mike Poeppe

 
    Greater Yellowlegs      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 

Greater Yellowlegs
Allen Chartier

  Greater Yellowlegs  

Greater Yellowlegs
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

  Greater Yellowlegs  

Greater Yellowlegs
JMC Nature Photos

  Greater Yellowlegs  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
  "Greater Yellowlegs"
Published on Mar 8, 2016
 
   
 
About

The Greater Yellowlegs are pretty much named for their yellow legs. Feeds on insects, snails, small fish etc. Filmed along a pond in Norman County - Mn. They were hard to follow with a camera at times with their unpredictable movements. Background music added.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  A Greater Yellowlegs, Cornwall
MrWdlc
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 12, 2011

12/09/11, Is this a first for Cornwall? Probable greater yellowlegs

today at Treraven Meadows, Wadebridge. Great view and you judge the

video!

 
  Greater Yellowlegs
naturalist97333
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 30, 2011

Listen for the "cu-cu-cu" call. Also featured is the similar-looking Lesser Yellowlegs and the Solitary Sandpipier.

 
  Greater Yellowlegs (Scolopacidae: Tringa melanoleuca) Wading
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 23, 2009

Photographed at the Kelly's Slough NWR, North Dakota (23 October 2009).

 
  Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs
Mark Vance
 
   
 
About

Published on Mar 13, 2013

Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) - By: Mark H. Vance - Be sure to check out all of Mark's bird videos at http://www.youtube.com/markinsrq5 Please subscribe if you like birds, many more great videos to come! Thanks

Mark Vance
5342 Clark Rd #144
Sarasota, Fl 34233

The Celery Fields - Sarasota, Florida Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/groups/218447...

Please join!

 
  Greater Yellowlegs eats biggest possible fish
Luther Driggers
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 26, 2013

Have you ever wondered how big a fish a Greater Yellowlegs can swallow? Perhaps you didn't know they ate fish at all! This looks like the largest one possible :)

The parts that look like a picture was taken were not added later for effect - it is a feature of the Canon SX50 that you can span a photo while taking video.

For more pictures go to:

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Dan W. Andree
5/4/2023

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn

Green-winged Teal Dark and a...Greater Yellowlegs…I think. May 4, 2023 rural Norman Co. Mn. The little green-winged was dunking itself at times and splashing around in the water. The yellowlegs was just kind of in the same area.

Green Heron  
  Mike Poeppe
4/15/2023

Location: about 3 miles east of Hokah, MN

Greater Yellowlegs  
  Dan W. Andree
10/22/2022

Location: Norman Co. Mn

… Seen them Oct. 22, 2022 at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. The larger ones were vocal making sounds at times. The two smaller ones just took a bath and dried themselves off. I didn’t hear them make any sounds.

Greater Yellowlegs  
  Dan W. Andree
4/26/2021

Location: Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Pavia Unit

I think some kind of Sandpipers.... one was quite a bit larger than the other yet the smaller one followed the larger one

Greater Yellowlegs

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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