Greater Yellowlegs -Tringa melanoleuca

While doing a Richardson Bay survey I spotted a Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) along the shore, and couldn't resist taking a few shots. Melanoleuca  means black and white, and I like to think of it as "salt and pepper". In breeding plumage the bird indeed appears more black and white, but in winter the upperparts are more gray, with a brown tinge, as seen here. I like these shots because they show how the base of the bill has some color, which helps distinguish it from the Lesser Yellowlegs (T. flavipes). The bill of the Greater YL is also longer, slightly upturned at times, and thicker at the base than the bill of the Lesser. 

Here'a another shot, showing the view more from the rear.

It's interesting to note the DNA studies suggest that the Greater Yellowlegs is closely related to the "shanks", i.e. Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, both large birds in the Tringa genus. The lesser Yellowlegs is in fact more closely related to the Willet. A good example of convergent evolution at work.