Its long, yellow legs notwithstanding, the Greater Yellowlegs is a study in grey and white. Zigzagging through the shallows, dashing after prey, or bobbing its entire body, the Greater Yellowlegs is often animated and vocal.

The Greater Yellowlegs breeds in the wetlands of boreal forests from the Canadian Maritimes west to southern Alaska. The birds' wintering range extends from the mid-coasts of the United States through Central America to the tip of South America. The Greater Yellowlegs is fairly common across much of North America, as it migrates to an extremely broad wintering range.

 

A legend for the range map to the right can be found here.

The Greater Yellowlegs appears to be increasing in North America, but its remote and wild breeding habitat, coupled with an enormous wintering range, make accurate counts difficult. Since 1958, the Christmas Bird Count has recorded significant increases in wintering populations of this species, but explanations for these changes are speculative.

As Greater Yellowlegs populations rebound from market hunting in the early 20^th century, they continue to be impacted by industrial contamination (especially heavy metals), the loss of habitat for migration and wintering, and the degradation of boreal forests by logging and mining. Only 6% of Canada's boreal forest is protected, and nearly 2.5 million acres of boreal forest is cut every year. 90% of this deforestation consists of clearcutting. Presently, the Greater Yellowlegs is not a conservation priority, but the precipitous decline of similar species, like the Lesser Yellowlegs, provides cause for concern.

 

The Greater Yellowlegs' wide distribution over many countries necessitates a coordinated effort to successfully respond to their needs. Established in 1985, the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Network has begun to meet these needs. Strengthening the network will further assist the Greater Yellowlegs.

Look for the Greater Yellowlegs in local wetlands during spring and fall migration, and learn to distinguish between this species and the Lesser Yellowlegs.

 

Conduct and report a migratory shorebird survey according to the International Shorebird Survey protocols.

 

Pets, children, and walkers can disturb shorebirds by approaching too closely. At the beach, in wet grassy fields, or along marshes, respect the natural caution of the Greater Yellowlegs and give them room to forage and rest.

 

The American boreal forests continue to be cut for logging and mining. Such logging is driven by consumer demand for paper. Buy paper products high in recycled content and reduce your influx of catalogs and junk mail.

 

Open, flooded fields are important habitats for migrating Greater Yellowlegs. Support farming practices and conservation management that do not drain or fill low areas.

 

For more actions you can take, including Audubon activities, please visit our resources page.

The federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) benefits wetland species by paying landowners not to use critical habitats. For a brief history of the CRP and its benefits, visit the Farm Service Agency's website.

 

Learn more about the impacts of forest fragmentation by visiting Global Forest Watch.

 

Visit our resources page for more information about this species.

Donaldson, G. M.; Hyslop, C.; Morrison, R.I.G.; Dickson, H.L.; and Davidson, I. The Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan. The Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3: 2000.

 

Elphick, C. S., and T. L. Tibbitts. 1998. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). In The Birds of North America, No. 355 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

 

Kaufman, Kenn. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, 1996.

 

Sibley, David Allen. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

 

Wells, Jeffrey. "The Importance of the CBC in Our Understanding of Boreal Bird Populations." American Birds (59) 28-29.