Greater and Lesser Ripples

greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs

Of all the ways to tell lesser and greater yellowlegses apart, one of the least appreciated is the difference in behavior. Greaters are violent and fast, rushing through the water like avocets, heads asway, while lessers are less frantic, picking and stepping high as they feed.

On a beautiful calm fall day like today, all you have to do is look for the ripples on the pond.

greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs

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