Lesson 2: Tringa-type Shorebirds Flashcards
Tringas are medium to large-sized sandpipers with long bills, necks, and legs. In this deck, we'll learn how to recognize and identify the seven Tringa-type shorebirds found in North America.
What is meant by the term “Tringa”?
Tringa is the genus of shorebirds that contains the yellowlegs, tattlers, and sandpipers like the Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper.
For example, the scientific name of the Greater Yellowlegs is Tringa melanoleuca, where ‘Tringa’ is the genus and ‘melanoleuca’ the species.
The Tringa shorebirds all share particular physical characteristics and behaviors that allow us to separate them from the other shorebirds—like plovers, peeps, and phalaropes, etc.—that share the same habitats.
Describe the overall physical characteristics of the Tringa-type shorebirds.
- Tall, thin, lanky sandpipers
- Medium to large in size
- Long, straight bills
- Medium-to-long neck, and
- Relatively small head
Think: Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, and Willet!
How many species of Tringas are found in North America and what are they?
List in decreasing order of size
Five
- Willet
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Wandering Tattler
Stilt Sandpiper - Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
There is a reason that Stilt Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper aren’t included in the list numbering, and that’s because while they have the typical physical characteristics of a Tringa-type shorebird, they actually belong to different genuses.
Nevertheless, we have included them in this deck because you’re more likely to confuse Stilt and Solitary Sandpiper with another Tringa than any other shorebird from any other group.
There are 13 species in the genus Tringa, five of which breed in North America.
What birds are these?
Greater Yellowlegs
The bright yellow legs, overall size, and shape tell us this is a yellowlegs but it’s the long bill (longer than the head), which very slightly curves upward that tells us it’s a Greater Yellowlegs. Also pay attention to relative size. Greater Yellowlegs are much larger than the similar-looking Lesser Yellowlegs, which is about the size of a Killdeer.
What bird is this?
Lesser Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs are about the size of a Killdeer, making them medium-sized shorebirds.
So if you see a bird with bright yellow legs, a long neck, and small head but you are unsure as to whether it is a Greater- or Lesser Yellowlegs, ask yourself: “is it the same size as a Killdeer?” If so, it’s a Lesser Yellowlegs. If it is bigger, it’s a Greater Yellowlegs.
If you are new to birding and don’t know how big a Killdeer is, there are a few other critical ID clues you can look for to tell a Lesser apart from a Greater Yellowlegs and these will come up in other cards so keep studying!
Name FIVE distinguishing physical characteristics of the Greater Yellowlegs.
- Large shorebird, larger than a Killdeer
- Has long, yellow legs that stick out way past the tail in flight
- Bill is long and very slightly upturned
- In flight, shows a white rump and mostly white tail
- No wing stripes
Name FIVE distinguishing physical characteristics of the Lesser Yellowlegs.
- Medium-sized shorebird, about the same size as a Killdeer
- Has long, yellow legs
- Long, thin bill that LACKS any curvature
- In flight, shows white rump, mostly white tail, and long yellow feet that stick out past the tail
- No wing stripes
What THREE clues can help you tell a Lesser Yellowlegs apart from a Greater Yellowlegs?
Lesser Yellowlegs is:
1. Much smaller in size (about the size of a Killdeer)
2. Has a different call (1-2 whistled notes instead of 3-5)
3. Has a shorter, very straight bill that is about the same length as its head, whereas the Greater Yellowlegs has a long, slightly upturned bill
Where in a habitat would you typically find a Yellowlegs foraging?
Anywhere between the shore and further out in the deeper water
They have long legs for a reason! Both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are able to wade far out into deeper water than many other shorebirds.
Describe the typical foraging behavior of both Yellowlegs species.
Both Greater and Lesser
Stroll n’ pick
Both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs tend to wade further out into the water than most shorebirds, where they appear to “stroll” from morsel to morsel, picking at the surface of the water or vegetation. They do not probe the mud or substrate with their bills like other sandpipers.
ID Hack: Lesser Yellowlegs can be more energetic than Greater Yellowlegs and actually dash after food.
Besides “stroll n’ pick”, what other foraging behavior does the Greater Yellowlegs exhibit that can help you identify them?
Scything
This is a distinctive behavioral trait that involves slicing their bills through the water, from left to right, much like American Avocet. Since Lesser Yellowlegs do not scythe at all, this behavior can help you tell the two yellowlegs species apart.
What bird is this?
Spotted Sandpiper
Breeding plumage
Spotted breast and belly, bright orange bill, and strong white eyebrow and dark eye stripe tell us this is a Spotted Sandpiper!
Another super distinctive trait of this shorebird is that it constantly bobs its tail while it forages, while the similar-looking Solitary Sandpiper bobs the upperparts of its body (and not the tail).
What bird is this?
Solitary Sandpiper
It looks like a Lesser Yellowlegs but has a bold white eye-ring. This must be a Solitary Sandpiper! Also, if you happen to see it in flight, look for distinctive, boldly barred (not white) rump and outer tail feathers.
Other clues you could look out for include: habitat (small pools, freshwater ponds, and stream edges) and behaviour (periodic head bobbing, like it’s hiccuping!) Remember, Spotted Sandpipers constantly bob their tails. Solitary Sandpipers, which look very similar in non-breeding plumage, bob their heads.
What is the most noticeable physical trait of the Solitary Sandpiper?
Bold white eye-ring
It also has a distinctly-barred tail, which separates it from the Yellowlegs, which has a white tail.
What FIVE distinctive traits should you look for in a Spotted Sandpiper?
- Spotted breast and belly (in breeding plumage)
- Orange bill
- Dark eye stripe, a white eyebrow, and broken eye ring
- Extension of white past the shoulder, like a little “peninsula”
- Constant tail bobbing as it forages
What EIGHT clues can help you tell a Spotted Sandpiper apart from a Solitary Sandpiper?
Spotted Sandpiper have:
* A thinner, broken white eye ring
* White extending up the shoulder
* Dark eye stripe and white eyebrow
* Uniform brown tail (not barred)
* Spotting on chest in breeding plumage
They also:
* Lack white spots on the back
* Constantly bob their tails, whereas the Solitary Sandpiper bobs the upper part of its body.
In non-breeding plumage, the Solitary Sandpiper is most likely to be confused with a Spotted Sandpiper because they are about the same size, shape, and color (Spotted Sandpipers lose their spots in winter) and tend to be found singularly in the same habitats.
What SIX clues can help you tell either of the Yellowlegs apart from a Solitary Sandpiper?
Solitary Sandpipers are smaller and have:
* A bold white eye ring
* Greenish legs (not bright yellow)
* A dark rump (not white)
* A barred tail (not white)
Also look for the long, upturned bill of the Greater Yellowlegs.
Name TWO Tringa shorebirds that prefer pond, lake, and stream edges, as opposed to the usual extensive mudflats and sandy beaches inhabited by most other shorebirds.
Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers
You might think a pond edge is a great place for a shorebird but, in fact, they prefer wetland habitats with more extensive shorelines and mudflats surrounding the actual water source. Pond edges typically have a very narrow swath of foraging territory, with the water giving away almost immediately to vegetation.
Willet
Non-breeding plumage
These are large, stout shorebirds with long, straight, robust bills and gray legs (not yellow).
In the non-breeding season, Willet have uniform brown-gray upperparts and cream-colored underparts. Look closely and note the slim eye-rings.
What you do do not see in this picture is the Willet’s tell-tale physical trait: a bold black-and-white wing pattern that distinguishes it from all other shorebirds!
Wandering Tattler
Non-breeding plumage
Wandering Tattler are specialists of the rocky surf zones and shores of the Pacific coast. Here, they forage among the rocks for food alongside other marine specialists, like Black Turnstones and Surfbirds.
In non-breeding plumage, they are plain gray all over with a white belly, yellow legs, and short white eye stripe.
Their lack of notable markings can actually help you tell them apart from similar-looking species, like the Surfbird, which does have strong markings: a wing stripe, white rump, and dark outer tail feathers in flight. The Surfbird also has a much shorter, more triangular bill.
What distinctive behavior do Wandering Tattler exhibit?
Tail bobbing, almost like they are balancing themselves
The Wandering Tattler’s telltale unsteady gait comes from bobbing its tail as it hunts for insects, small mollusks, and crabs. It is very distinctive and can help you distinguish them from a Surfbird, a very similar-looking species.
What is the Willet’s most noticeable trait?
Stunning and bold black-and-white wing patterns, which are distinctive of the species!
Photo by Derek Keats
They are also noisy birds! In fact, they get their name from their call: “Pill-will-willet! Pill will-willet!”
Lesser Yellowlegs
Bright yellow legs and a thin, straight bill (without curvature) that is about the same length as the head tell us this is a Lesser Yellowlegs. These shorebirds are also much smaller than the similar-looking Greater Yellowlegs and have a different call (1-2 sharp, whistled notes instead of 3-5).
If you are thinking that the plumage of this particular bird looks different to the other pictures of Lesser Yellowlegs you have seen in this deck, that’s because this bird is in breeding plumage.
However, because feather coloration and markings are so variable in Yellowlegs—and shorebirds in general—it is more important to look for clues in the bird’s size, shape, and behaviors.
What bird is this?
Greater Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs (left) are large shorebirds with long, bright yellow legs, a long neck, and a long bill. In fact, bill length is key in differentiating these birds from the very similar-looking Lesser Yellowlegs (right).
If the bill is longer than its head—and ever-so-slightly curved upwards—you are probably looking at a Greater Yellowlegs. If, however, the bill is thin, straight, and about the same length as the head, it is a Lesser Yellowlegs.
Spotted Sandpiper
Non-breeding plumage
While the Spotted Sandpiper loses its tell-tale spotted breast and belly in the winter, the little extension of white feathers past the shoulder is a distinctive trait of the species, and can help to tell it apart from the similar-looking Solitary Sandpiper.
Also note the broken (and not complete), thin (and not bold) white eye-ring, dark eye stripe, and orange bill.
Solitary Sandpiper
Note bold white eye-ring, dark olive-brown plumage with white spots, clean white belly, and—if you look closely—greenish legs (not bright yellow).
Solitary Sandpipers are often confused with non-breeding Spotted Sandpipers because they look very similar and tend to like the same habitats. However, Spotted Sandpiper lack the bold white eye-ring and have a dark eye stripe.
What bird is this?
Wandering Tattler
A plain gray shorebird with yellow legs, slim eye ring, short eye stripe and a strict preference for rocky marine, coastal habitats. Wandering Tattler can be confused with Spotted Sandpiper, which look quite similar in non-breeding plumage. However, the latter are more brown than gray, have more extensive eye markings, and a white (not pale gray) belly, breast, and shoulder patch.
Another key identification marker to look out for is the Wandering Tattler’s constant tail bobbing as it walks and forages. This won’t help you tell it apart from the Spotted Sandpiper, which also bobs its tail, but it will help you differentiate it from the similar-looking Surfbird, which does not bob at all.
Willet
Breeding plumage
Just look at that bold, black-and-white wing patterning. No other brown-gray shorebird hides such an ostentatious feature under its wings!
This Willet is also in mottled gray, brown, and black breeding plumage. Otherwise, its shape, gray legs, long robust bill, and wing pattern indicate its identity.
ID Hack: Willet have slightly rounder wing tips than most other shorebirds.
Stilt Sandpiper
Breeding plumage
These shorebirds are a little bit smaller than a Lesser Yellowlegs and exhibit similar characteristics (tall and thin with a long bill); however, they are, in fact, more closely related to the peeps, which makes sense when you look at that droopy Dunlin-like bill!
In the breeding season, they develop a rusty cap and face patch, and heavy barring completely across the chest and belly. This is unlike other Tringa-type shorebirds, which usually have plain white bellies.
Greater Yellowlegs
Long yellow legs and long, slightly-upturned bill.
Stilt Sandpiper
Breeding plumage
This individual is in full breeding plumage so note its rusty cap and face patch, and heavy barring completely across the chest and belly. This is unlike other Tringas, which usually have plain white bellies.
Also note the long black bill that droops at the end. This is a strong ID marker of the Stilt Sandpiper.
What bird is this?
Lesser Yellowlegs
Note the skinny, straight bill that is about the same length as the head and the long, bright yellow legs.
Solitary Sandpiper
Medium-sized shorebird with moderately long legs, a moderately long neck, and a straight bill. Often confused with Lesser Yellowlegs but note the bold white eye-ring and greenish (not bright yellow) legs.
Solitary Sandpipers, as their name suggests, are rarely found with other shorebirds or even with other Solitary Sandpipers. They go it alone, foraging along small freshwater ponds, stream edges, and temporary pools and much less frequently in habitats preferred by other shorebirds, like mudflats and open marshes.
Spotted Sandpiper
Breeding plumage
The spotted belly, orange bill, and broken white eye ring are distinctive of the Spotted Sandpiper. Also note the dark eye stripe and white eyebrow.
The relative paucity of spots on the breast could indicate that this individual is transitioning into or out of breeding plumage, or is an immature.
Willet
Non-breeding plumage
Plain gray shorebird (in non-breeding plumage)—large overall—with longish gray legs, a long robust bill and slim, broken eye ring.
What bird is this?
Wandering Tattler
Non-breeding plumage
Really pay attention to the light gray wash over the neck, chest and shoulder of this sleeping shorebird. If this were a Spotted Sandpiper, which is often confused with the Wandering Tattler, the breast, belly, and shoulder would be white (in non-breeding plumage).
And if it were a Willet, it would have longer, gray legs, not yellow (among other features).
The Wandering Tattler actually develops heavy barring on the breast and belly during the breeding season but because they spend winter along the Pacific coast, we most often see them in their plain, uniform gray non-breeding plumage.
Stilt Sandpiper
Non-breeding plumage
In non-breeding plumage, Stilt Sandpiper become plain, pale gray with a lighter belly. Note the white eyebrow stripe, long dirty yellow (not bright yellow) legs, and blob-ended bill.
Aside from the Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpiper, what other shorebird could the non-breeding Stilt Sandpiper possibly be confused with?
Wilson’s Phalarope in non-breeding plumage
But they have an entirely white underside, a thin, straight bill (no droop), and a much more active foraging behavior.
