Photo: Wwcsig / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of Victoria Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of New South Wales Sandpipers & Allies of Queensland Sandpipers & Allies of Victoria Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Manitoba Sandpipers & Allies of New Brunswick Sandpipers & Allies of Newfoundland and Labrador Sandpipers & Allies of Nova Scotia Sandpipers & Allies of Northwest Territories

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The Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 77.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Tringa
Species flavipes

Where it lives

(mainly) subarctic tundra to forest of northern Nearctic: Alaska mainland (except far western, far northern) south to central British Columbia and southern Alberta, east to James Bay and probably central Quebec (east-central Canada)

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 77.5 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

Least Concern

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Least Concern

Ruff

Calidris pugnax

Least Concern

Little Curlew

Numenius minutus

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Lesser Yellowlegs hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Lesser Yellowlegs is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA (mainly) subarctic tundra to forest of n Nearctic: Alaska mainland (except far w, far n) s to c British Columbia and s Alberta, e to James Bay and probably c Quebec (ec Canada).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 77.5 g, with a wing length of about 15.3 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.6 million km².

Songs & calls

Lesser Yellowlegs — Call, Camera shutter

Recorded by Tony Rinaud Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Lesser Yellowlegs?

The Lesser Yellowlegs is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 77.5 g.

Where does the Lesser Yellowlegs live?

The Lesser Yellowlegs is found across North America with a range covering NA (mainly) subarctic tundra to forest of n Nearctic: Alaska mainland (except far w, far n) s to c British Columbia and s Alberta, e to James Bay and probably c Quebec (ec Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Lesser Yellowlegs belong to?

The Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Lesser Yellowlegs eat?

The Lesser Yellowlegs hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Lesser Yellowlegs migrate?

The Lesser Yellowlegs is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Lesser Yellowlegs endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Lesser Yellowlegs make?

1 real field recording of the Lesser Yellowlegs — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Lesser Yellowlegs's range?

The Lesser Yellowlegs has a mapped global range of about 4.6 million km².