They are widely distributed in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Antilles, with the largest populations found wintering in these regions.
At a glance
Sounds
Range map
Range map
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Plumage is essentially identical to Greater Yellowlegs: gray upperparts with white speckling, streaky neck, and white belly. Proportions are most important for identification. Lesser is smaller overall with shorter, narrower, straighter bill, shorter neck, more rounded head, and smaller chest. Somewhat more likely to be found in smaller, marshier habitats than Greater, but much overlap.
Behavior
Forages actively on mudflats and in shallow pools and marshes, often in loose mixed flocks with Greater Yellowlegs. Listen for soft, whistled “tew” calls, typically only one or two notes, unlike the stronger series of notes from Greater.
Gallery