Comparing Similar Shorebirds

Here are a couple pictures of 2 species of shorebirds who I usually see during spring migration, a Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper. 

I wish I could tell you something that will easily distinguish these 2 related species of bird, but pictures like this demonstrate that - seen apart from 1 another - they look pretty similar [1]. Telling them apart on the ground [2] means making somewhat subjective judgments. Although the Solitary Sandpiper generally looks darker, I think the legs (if you can see them) are the better clue. The Lesser Yellowlegs have noticeably longer legs both in absolute length and also in length relative to the body. (Unfortunately both can have yellow legs.)

This is 1 of those birds that good bird watchers can probably ID quickly in good lighting and with an unobstructed view, but I frequently find myself going back-and-forth before deciding which bird I'm looking at.

Lesser Yellowlegs
May 9, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 282305509, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Solitary Sandpiper
May 9, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 282306389, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

[1] If you saw them side-by-side, the identification would be easy; the Lesser Yellowlegs would be the big 1. This is similar to the situation where you see a Hairy Woodpecker side-by-side with a Downy Woodpecker, or seeing a Common Raven next to one of our 2 main crow species (American and Fish).

[2] Flying overhead, the Solitary Sandpiper would have quite a bit of black on its tail while the Lesser Yellowlegs would have a mostly white tail.


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