Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada

The Greater Yellowlegs - A Conspicuous Shorebird

The yellowlegs is immediately recognizable by its long, bright yellow legs.
© Cape Breton Highlands National Park / S. Homer

The greater yellowlegs is somewhat larger than a pigeon but smaller than a crow. Its most distinguishing characteristic is its long, bright yellow legs and feet. The greater yellowlegs feeds on small minnows and aquatic insects while wading in shallow water. Its nest is a depression in the ground, usually well concealed and lined with grass, moss or other plant material. The female usually lays four eggs which are buff in colour with dark brown spots and blotches. Both male and female actively care for the young.

Distribution

The greater yellowlegs breeds from Alaska to Newfoundland and in the east as far south as Cape Breton. It winters along both coasts from the northern United States to the Caribbean and South America.

Bird of the Tundra

The greater yellowlegs generally nests in high tundra in the more northerly parts of Canada, but the taiga in Cape Breton Highlands National Park provides similar habitat. The greater yellowlegs is known to nest inside the park. Look for it near the highland lakes in the summer. In the spring, greater yellowlegs are commonly encountered in the lowlands as well, before heading to good nesting habitat.

It is a very vocal bird, often calling when alarmed, the sound being a descending "whew-whew-whew". It also may emit a long series of monotonous "kwek-kwek-kweks." In spring it makes another call when its breeding territory is invaded, more like a "whee-oodle whee-oodle."