Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for Monday, July 25

The yellowlegs is Bird Calls Radio’s Bird of the Day for Monday, July 25. There are two yellowlegs species: greater and lesser. As the names suggest, the greater is slightly larger overall (14 inches compared to 10 inches) with a longer bill.

All yellowlegs have — all together now — yellow legs. Other shorebirds have yellow legs, too, but yellowlegs have long bright yellow legs holding up a somewhat small frame. Yellowlegs are the subject of many woodcarvers’ creations.

Yellowlegs are most often seen along the coast, but may be found on freshwater as well. I remember several years ago walking along a lake in northern New Hampshire in the fall. The lake has been mostly drained or “let down” for the winter by the dam and the only birdlife remaining was a lone yellowlegs, frantically hunting the shoreline.

All in all, a pretty neat New England bird.

Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.