YELLOW-LEGS 265 



Sandpiper, and its flight is generally higher and wilder. 

 (See Spotted Sandpiper, p. 262.) Like the Yellow-legs, it 

 constantly nods its head and neck. 



Yellow-legs; Summer Yellow-legs. Totanus flavi2)es 



10.75. Bill 1.40 

 Closely resembles the following species. 



The Summer Yellow-legs is a rather common fall migrant 

 off the coast of New York and New England ; it is very 

 rare in spring. It resembles its larger relative, the Winter 

 Yellow-legs, very closely, both in appearance and habits, 

 but differs slightly in its notes. (See the following species.) 



Greater Yellow-legs ; Winter Yellow-legs. Tota- 



nus melanoleucus 



14.00. Bill 2.20 



Ad. in spring. — Upper parts blackish and pale gra}', speckled 

 with white ; basal half of the tail white. Under parts white, 

 streaked in the throat with dusky, and on the breast and sides 

 spotted and barred with gray. Ad. in winter and Im. — Similar, 

 but without the blackish on the upper parts; under parts streaked 

 only on the neck and upper breast ; legs yellow. 



The Winter Yellow-legs is a common migrant along the 

 coast, making the longest stay of any of our non-resident 

 shore-birds ; it is found from the middle of April through 

 May, and from the middle of July through October. It fre- 

 quents grassy marshes, but may be seen or heard on almost 

 any muddy flat. 



Its loud whistled note, ku, ku, ku, ku, is a familiar sound 

 and calls our attention to its long slender form high over 

 head. When it lights, it bobs its head frequently, like the 

 Solitary Sandpiper and the Hing-neck. Its long slender 

 legs and long bill are conspicuous. AVhen it rises, its white 

 upper tail-coverts are an excellent field-mark ; the Black- 



