Florida Envirothon - Wildlife: Greater Yellow-Legs

What does the greater yellow-legs look like?

A tall, long-beaked shorebird. Its body is gray with brown streaks, and it has long yellow legs which trail behind when it flies

How long is the greater yellow-legs’ body?

13-15 inches long

What are yellow-legs often referred to as?

Tattlers or telltales due to their talkative habits and vigilance to warn of approaching danger

Where do greater yellow-legs feed?

Mudflats, grassy ponds, or shallow water?

What is the yellow-legs’ diet

Particularly minnows, but also insects and small invertebrate animals.

Where do yellow-legs breed?

HIgh tunder near ponds

What do yellow-legs’ nests look like?

Depressions in the moss, with no other nesting materials added.

What do yellow-legs’ eggs look like?

buff colored with brown blotches

How big is the yellow-legs’ clutch?

4

When does nesting usually occur for the yellow legs?

Late May

Where do the birds winter over?

Over a large area from the southern United States south into the West Indies and Central .to as far as the tip of South America

How are the greater yellow-legs distinguished from the lesser yellow-legs?

Larger size, thicker bill, longer legs, and small grouping behavior