Tringa melanoleuca

A large (14 inches) sandpiper, the Greater Yellowlegs in summer is most easily identified by its mottled gray back and wings, pale breast, long straight bill, and characteristic bright yellow legs. In winter, this species becomes slightly duller-plumaged overall. This species may be separated from the related Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) by that species’ much smaller size and from the Willet (Tringa semipalmata) by that species’ heavily-patterned wings and bluish legs. Male and female Greater Yellowlegs are similar to one another in all seasons. The Greater Yellowlegs breeds in Alaska and the Canadian subarctic. This species is a long-distance migrant, wintering from the coasts of the U.S.south to southern South America. Greater Yellowlegs migrate through the Caribbean, along both coasts of North America, and in the interior of the continent. Greater Yellowlegs primarily breed in freshwater marshes surrounded by northern evergreen forests. In winter and on migration, this species may be found in a number of wetland habitats, including freshwater or saltwater marshes, flooded grasslands, and estuaries. Greater Yellowlegs mainly eat small fish and invertebrates, including insects, aquatic worms, and mollusks. Due to its remote breeding habitat, most birdwatchers never see Greater Yellowlegs during the summer. On migration or during the winter, this species may be seen probing the mud for food with its bill while wading in shallow water. Greater Yellowlegs are primarily active during the day.

Threat Status: Least concern

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Alaska and Canada; winters to s South America.

Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, North West Atlantic, Polish Exclusive Economic Zone, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone

North America; summer range extends from Labrador to Nova Scotia

The Greater Yellowlegs breeds throughout a band in central Canada, from Newfoundland and eastern Nova Scotia to eastern British Columbia. The breeding range also extends into Alaska, along the southern Pacific coast. Though it has not been confirmed, it is believed to extend past these areas, farther into the Northwest Territories and south into Oregon.

This species winters along the ocean coasts of North America, from New York south along to the Gulf of Mexico and from California south to Central America.

Vagrant individuals of this species have been observed in Europe, with sightings recorded in Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway and Spain. Rare observations of the species have been reported from Russia, Japan, Micronesia and once in South Africa.

(Elphick and Tibbits 1998)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) BREEDING: from southern Alaska, central British Columbia, and southern Mackenzie east across northern and central parts of Canadian Provinces to Labrador, northeastern Nova Scotia, southern Quebec, and Newfoundland. NON-BREEDING: from Oregon, central California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, southern South Carolina through Mexico and Central America to Tierra del Fuego, including West Indies; rare in Hawaii. The Guianas are the major coastal nonbreeding areas in South America (Morrison and Ross 1989). Nonbreeders sometimes summer in winter range, especially in coastal U.S. and West Indies (AOU 1983). Fairly common throughout most of range.

The Greater Yellowlegs is a medium-sized (approximately 36 cm long) shorebird with distinctive long, bright yellow legs. Its white tail is crossed with thin, black bars, adding to its cryptic coloration. It has a long, thin, slightly upturned, dark bill with a paler base. The bill length is about 1.5 times the length of the head. Males and females look alike and the juveniles have plumage like that of the adults.

Adults in basic (winter) plumage have pale heads and necks with a few brown streaks on them. The breast and flanks are spotted and streaked grayish-brown. Greater Yellowlegs have a dark brown back with lighter featheredges.

Adults in alternate (breeding) plumage have their heads, necks and chests streaked with black. The bill is also black. Their pale flanks are barred with black. The white belly has sparse dark bars. The back and upperwings are dark brown, spotted with black and white. They also have off-white supercilium (line above the eye) and eye-ring, and smoky-colored lores.

This species is often confused with the Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes. The most obvious difference between the two is that of size, with the Greater Yellowlegs weighing 171 grams versus the Lesser Yellowlegs at 81 grams.

(Elphick and Tibbits 1998, National Geographic Society 1999)

Average mass: 171 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Length: 36 cm

Weight: 171 grams

Systems

• Terrestrial
• Freshwater
• Marine

In its breeding range, the Greater Yellowlegs can be found throughout the boreal zone in wet bogs with small islands and in coniferous forests with many clearings. They are found in wet areas, covered with mosses and lichens. The breeding areas usually have many small lakes and ponds and trees to be used as perches. Subarctic tundra and subalpine scrub, however, may also serve as breeding sites.

In its wintering range, this species may be found in a variety of wetland habitats, both freshwater and saline. When the feeding habitats are tidal, a Greater Yellowlegs will roost on offshore rocks and reefs. Greater Yellowlegs that have settled along the coast are often found on shallow lagoons and tidal flats. Inland in the southern United States and into South America, these birds will use flooded rice fields.

Elphick, Chris S. and T. Lee Tibbits. 1998. Greater Yellowlegs. The Birds of North America 355:1-23.

1999. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington D.C.

Terrestrial Biomes: taiga

Depth range based on 20 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 0
  Temperature range (°C): 6.466 - 7.576
  Nitrate (umol/L): 1.191 - 3.449
  Salinity (PPS): 30.132 - 31.303
  Oxygen (ml/l): 7.098 - 7.228
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.480 - 0.684
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.892 - 6.431

Graphical representation

Temperature range (°C): 6.466 - 7.576

Nitrate (umol/L): 1.191 - 3.449

Salinity (PPS): 30.132 - 31.303

Oxygen (ml/l): 7.098 - 7.228

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.480 - 0.684

Silicate (umol/l): 1.892 - 6.431
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Comments: Nonbreeding: marshes, ponds, lakes, stream margins and sand and gravel bars, lagoons, salinas, and coastal mudflats (AOU 1983, Stiles and Skutch 1989). Nests in muskeg country or at other wetlands, on the ground in a slight depression in moss or dry peat, usually near water.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Migrates throughtout North America south of breeding range. Arrives in northern U.S. April-May or June during northward migration. Departures from breeding areas begin in mid-July (Hayman et al. 1986). Most common in fall in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (Raffaele 1983). Migrates through Costa Rica Aug. or September-October and April-May (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Usually migrates in small flocks, day or night.

The Greater Yellowlegs primarily eat small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds or berries. Greater Yellowlegs will, at times, eat insects along the shore or snatch them out of the air.

(Elphick and Tibbits 1998)

Comments: Feeds on small fishes, insects and their larvae, snails, crabs, worms, and tadpoles. Wades through water and pecks at food with bill or skims suface with lower mandible.

Tringa melanoleuca (Fish and crustacean eating birds) preys on:
Pagurus
Pagurus maclaughlinae
Pinixia floridana
Neopanope texana
Processa bermudiensis
Penaeus duoarum
Palaemonetes floridanus
Urophycis floridana
Prionotus scitulus
Prionotus tribulus
Anchoa mitchilli
Menidia beryllina
Gobiosoma robustum
Microgobius gulosus
Lagodon rhomboides
Leiostomus xanthurus
Laridae
Cyprinodon variegatus
Anatidae
Fundulus confluentus
Fundulus similis
Adinia xenica

Based on studies in:
USA: Florida (Estuarine)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

100,000 - 1,000,000 individuals

Comments: The total population has been roughly estimated to be at least 100,000 (Morrison et al. 2001).

Generally not as gregarious as lesser yellowlegs; nonbreeding: usually solitary or in small groups.

Comments: Foraged with comparable frequency during day and night in northeastern Venezuela (Robert et al. 1989). May migrate day or night.

There is little data on the reproductive behavior of Greater Yellowlegs, but the mating system is presumed to be monogamous with an even sex ratio. The courting male runs in circles around a female and poses while quivering its up-held wings. In an established pair, the male does this for only a few seconds, while the "dance" must be done longer when attempting to create a pair. Eventually the male mounts the female's back and copulation occurs.

There is also no information on the duration or maintenance of the pair bond. There is evidence of joint care of the young, which indicates that the pair persists at least into the chick-rearing period. This bird has one brood per season and has 3-4 eggs in its clutch. There is no evidence of a second brood in the season, though individuals may renest after losing a clutch. The incubation period is 23 days while it takes 18-20 days to fledge.

There is no information on nest building, however, nest location has been studied. The nests are generally found on the ground at the base of short, coniferous trees and are placed in a moss-covered hummock. The nest structure is a scrape or depression in the moss, sometimes lined with leaves. Shrubs and small trees generally shade these nests.

The eggs are ovate pyriform in shape and have variable color. The background colors range from smoky-gray to an olive color. The spots are always some shade of brown, from light to dark. The spots are irregularly shaped and vary in size. They have a slightly glossy surface texture.

(Elphick and Tibbits 1998)

Breeding begins in late May or early June (Harrison 1978). Usually 4 eggs are incubated (probably by both sexes) for 23 days (Terres 1980). Nestlings are precocial. Young are tended by both adults; capable of first flight in about 18-20 days.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 9 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 9
Specimens with Barcodes: 12
Species With Barcodes: 1

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

History

• 2008
  Least Concern
• 2004
  Least Concern

Greater Yellowlegs were considered an important game bird in the early 20th century, due to its difficulty in being found. This hunting greatly reduced its numbers until the introduction of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918. Since 1927, this bird has been fully protected in the United States and Canada under this act. It is assumed that population numbers have increased since then, though this is not certain. DDE and PCBs have been studied in this species and have not been found to have an effect on the population numbers. Heavy metals have also been studied and selenium has been found to be the only one of concern. The main threat these birds have to their habitat is the loss of wetlands throughout their wintering range. The population numbers of the Greater Yellowlegs is thought to be stable and of little conservation concern, but there is little accurate data on this.

(Elphick and Tibbits 1998)

US Migratory Bird Act: protected

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5B - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5B,N5N : N5B: Secure - Breeding, N5N: Secure - Nonbreeding

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

None known.

The Greater Yellowlegs is a tentative species, so it is difficult to observe. Many birding tourists will go to both its breeding and wintering grounds in order to view it.