Greater Yellowlegs

Description:

Greater yellowlegs are a slim gray sandpiper, 12 1/2 to 15 inches, with black, white, and gray checkered back. As the name implies it has long yellow legs. They have a white eye ring and the under parts are whitish. In breeding plumage they are heavily barred below. The bill is long, and slightly upturned. The white tail, barred at the end can be readily seen in flight. Young birds look similar to the adults but are not has heavily marked. Like other birds in this genus they, bob their body up and down. The Lesser yellow legs looks similar but are smaller, and have a slim straight bill.