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 flavijies 

 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 melanoleitcus 



14.00. Bill 2.20 



Ad. in spring. — Upper parts blackish and pale gray, 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 w inter 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, kit, kit, kit, 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 Ring-neck. Its long slender 

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

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



