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Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
– Family
SCOLOPACIDAE
Authors: Elphick, Chris S., and T. Lee Tibbitts

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Measurements

Linear

See Appendix . Cramp and Simmons (1983) found no differences between sexes in any linear measurement. Wing and tail length differed between adults and juveniles; bill, tarsus, and toe were similar after Nov. Individuals from central Canada have significantly longer wings than individuals to east and west (Prater et al. 1977).

Mass

Cramp and Simmons (1983) summarized a variety of data from nonbreeding areas. Mean mass varies from 153 g ± 13 SD (n = 16) to 179 g ± 35 SD (n = 11) depending on time of year: Mass peaks in Mar–Apr and again in Sep. Data for birds of known age or sex suggest that adults are heavier then first-year birds (157 g ± 23 SD [n = 5] versus 150 g ± 22 SD [n = 7]; data from Oct–Dec) and females are heavier than males (176 g ± 28 SD [n = 9] versus 164 g ± 30 SD [n = 6]; data from Sep–Mar). Few data from breeding grounds. In s.-central Alaska, a breeding female weighed 187 g soon after arrival in spring (24 Apr), and 3 adults weighed 152, 163, and 160 g, respectively, in early Jun just after chicks had hatched (TLT).