Many years ago, during the market-hunting era, numerous species of shorebirds were commonly hunted. In those days, wooden decoys were set up on tidal or marsh mud flats or sand spits. Shorebirds of all kinds decoyed easily, sometimes in flocks of hundreds, and the market hunter was able to take them in great numbers. Often after the first volley of shotguns, they'd circle right back to the decoys offering the hunter more opportunities. One such species was the yellowlegs, especially the greater yellowlegs, which was fairly large.
The greater yellowlegs was also called the greater yellowshank or winter yellowlegs. Hunters called it "tattler" or "telltale," presumably because its call of three or four sharp, rapid, musical notes sounded a warning when it was suspicious or detected the presence of hunters. Its close cousin, the lesser yellowlegs, has a single or double noted call, which is softer.

     The greater yellowlegs measures about 14 inches in length, which is about four inches longer than the lesser, and weighs about seven ounces to the lesser's three. It has proportionately longer neck and legs, and a longer, heavier bill. Its feet are darker yellow than the lesser's, and its underparts are darker with more definitive markings. In flight, the greater's dark back and wings contrast sharply with its white rump and tail. The lesser yellowlegs is more delicate in features. It's lighter colored with softer grays and a finer, shorter bill and lemon yellow legs.

     While feeding, yellowlegs frequently utter their sharp calls and a small flock can get quite noisy. It is a very alert bird, and an intruder seldom gets too close before they take flight in a flurry of noisy calls. They feed in shallow water, although sometimes deep enough that they will swim and feed. Their main food is aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small fish. 

     On their spring migration to the northern muskegs of Canada, their flights carry them on an inland route. Their long legs and frequent calling can identify flocks of yellowlegs. Lessers seem to prefer flooded, grassy meadows, and will often flock up with other species of shorebirds. They'll run after insects on the surface or walk quietly into water belly-deep. Despite being up to their belly, they will deftly raise their feet completely out of the water and quickly take a step, rather than step forward with their feet underwater. Both species of yellowlegs have a habit of raising and lowering their heads abruptly while standing on alert.

     On their Canadian and Alaskan breeding grounds, they nest in depressions in the ground, the lesser in grassy meadows and bogs amid sparse timbered areas south of the treeless tundra, and the greater on hummocks in the boggy tundra or low, timbered ridges in muskeg country. Each species lays an average of four eggs per clutch, the lesser's being buffy, blotched with brown, while the greater's are described as brownish-orange, marked with reddish-brown. Young yellowlegs are precocial, that is, they can run around and fend for themselves as soon as their natal down is dry.

     Both species winter on all three southern coasts from Virginia, south to Florida, west to California, and south through Mexico, Central and South America down to the tip of Argentina, as well as the West Indies. They frequently fly direct to a coastal area from their breeding grounds, then follow the coastlines south.

© 2001 Carl C. Knuth All rights reserved.