Greater Yellowlegs

Seen one? Add it to your free US BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Common bird: +1 point when you log it.

Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Mudflats, shorelines, tundra.
Diet: Invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Peak on migration.

When to look

Check local eBird bar charts for timing in your state; range and season vary a lot across the US. Numbers peak in May.

How rare is it?

The Greater Yellowlegs sits in our Common tier for the US: one of the birds you can expect on most days out in the right habitat. It belongs to the sandpipers and allies family.

Recent US sightings

Similar birds

• Lesser YellowlegsCommon · Mudflats
• WilletCommon · Mudflats
• Common GreenshankRare · Mudflats
• Common RedshankLegendary · Mudflats
• Gray-tailed TattlerRare · Mudflats
• Green SandpiperEpic · Mudflats

Kit that helps

Best spotting scopes. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.