Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 46,363 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): NT.
When to photograph Greater Yellowlegs: observations by month (U.S.)
About Greater Yellowlegs
The greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is a large North American shorebird. The genus name Tringa is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific melanoleuca is from Ancient Greek melas, "black", and leukos, "white".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Greater Yellowlegs by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15,860 | January | Jul–Apr |
| Texas | 6,898 | March | Sep–Apr |
| Florida | 2,962 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Washington | 1,943 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Oregon | 1,678 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 1,444 | August | Jul–Oct |
| New York | 1,100 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 1,092 | April | Mar–May |
| Maryland | 875 | April | Mar–May |
| Alaska | 823 | August | Apr–Aug |
| Virginia | 760 | April | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 696 | January | Aug–Apr |
| Delaware | 672 | April | Mar–May |
| Illinois | 657 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 649 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 513 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 477 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 459 | April | Dec–May |
| Connecticut | 453 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 416 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 412 | April | Dec–May |
| Minnesota | 387 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 352 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 335 | October | Jul–Apr |
| Michigan | 334 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 333 | April | Jan–Apr |
| Vermont | 301 | October | Aug–Nov |
| Oklahoma | 291 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 282 | November | Oct–May |
| Utah | 277 | September | Jul–Dec |
| New Mexico | 271 | February | Sep–Apr |
| Tennessee | 271 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Kansas | 260 | April | Mar–May |
| Idaho | 220 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Mississippi | 153 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 148 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Georgia | 147 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Montana | 145 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 132 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 129 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 117 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 99 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 89 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 81 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 74 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 73 | April | Mar–May |
| Wyoming | 68 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 64 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 61 | April | Apr–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 24 | April | Apr–May |
| Hawaii | 6 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Greater Yellowlegs?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from July to May.
Where is Greater Yellowlegs most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.