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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. CXIII
Field-journal plate: Greater Yellowlegs
The Greater Yellowlegs plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate CXIII

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Scolopacidae · Taxon 3892

Length28–38 cm
Wingspan66–74 cm
Weight105–210 g

Field marks

  1. Very long, bright yellow to orange-yellow legs
  2. Long, dark, slightly upturned bill with a sturdy base
  3. Tall, lanky proportions with a long neck and small head
  4. Dark gray-brown upperparts and folded wings with crisp pale spotting or checkering
  5. Finely streaked head and neck with a distinct pale eye-ring
  6. White belly, variably marked flanks, and a short, dark-barred white tail

HabitatBreeds in boreal bogs, wet meadows, sedgelands, and wet forest clearings; otherwise occupies shallow fresh, brackish, and coastal wetlands such as marshes, mudflats, pond edges, estuaries, and flooded fields.

BehaviorForages actively in shallow water with a high-stepping walk, swift bill-stabs, and occasional runs after fish or aquatic invertebrates; often solitary or in loose groups.

Palette

bright yellowcharcoal blackslate grayearth brownclean white