Range Breeds in southern Alaska and in Canada in an eastwest band from south-central British Columbia to Labrador. Winters mainly from the southern United States to South America; also on the Pacific coast north to the southern Strait of Georgia.

Status Rare to locally very common migrant throughout most of the province. Rare summer visitant to the central-interior. Rare winter visitant in the Fraser Lowlands; fairly common along the southeast coast of Vancouver Island. Breeds.

Status Change No change.

Nonbreeding The Greater Yellowlegs is widely distributed throughout British Columbia from sea level to 1,585 m elevation. In migration it occurs in small numbers throughout the province although it is more abundant in the southern areas. The Greater Yellowlegs usually occurs in singles or small, loose flocks. It often mixes with Lesser Yellowlegs and other medium-sized waders. Occasionally, large flocks are observed where the birds are concentrated by unusually favourable feeding conditions. Large concentrations can often be found on southern Vancouver Island, the Fraser River delta, (Boundary Bay, and Iona, Sea, and Reifel islands), and to a lesser extent at Salmon Arm and Creston in the centralsouthern interior. Blackie Spit, on Boundary Bay, consistently attracts the largest numbers in the province. Coastal habitats include tidal mud flats in protected bays and estuaries, edges of tidal channels, sandy beaches, and spits, but especially areas with shallow waters over a mud bottom. Roost sites include offshore rocks, reefs, and rocky beaches. Inland habitats include shallow slough and pond edges, exposed mud flats, sedge swamps, flooded fields, edges of slow moving creeks, meltwater ponds, and muddy spots in bogs, muskeg, or uplands. Spring migration begins in late February or March on the south coast and April in the southern interior, peaking in late April or early May, and continuing through to late May. A few stragglers and nonbreeders are found along the coast in June. The autumn movement may begin in late June with adult birds, but it usually begins in early July (also see Buchanan 1988a). The movement peaks in mid-August through September when numbers are swelled by later-migrating juveniles. The northern autumn movement is weak compared to the southern movement. Autumn migration ends by late August in the northern interior, by October on the north coast, and by early November in the southern interior. Some birds remain throughout the autumn and early winter on the south coast and Fraser Lowlands, but the large numbers disappear in November. By December the species is scarce near Vancouver but is still fairly common on southeastern Vancouver Island between Victoria and Comox. Godfrey (1986) considers the species irregular in winter, but our data indicate regular wintering on southern Vancouver Island.

Breeding Nests Eggs Young The Greater Yellowlegs breeds on the plateaus of central British Columbia including the Chilcotin-Cariboo and Nechako Lowland regions. Godfrey (1986) includes all of northeastern British Columbia in this yellowlegs' breeding range but we have no documented breeding records north of 55° latitude in the province. The Greater Yellowlegs breeds in swampy forested lands between 900 and 1,220 m elevation. Preferred habitats include open or sparsely treed, mixed forests with low and sparse undergrowth near sloughs, wet meadows, or bogs. Burned ridges and clearings within forests are also used.

Nests:  The Greater Yellowlegs is a solitary nester; adults not tending nests are constantly alert for danger, often perching on tree tops for a good view of the surrounding area. Nests are extremely difficult to find. Five nests found were scrapes or depressions in the ground sparsely lined with bits of vegetation. Two nests were situated in open lodgepole pine stands near meadows, one nest was in a wet meadow, one in a dry, burned willow area, and one was near a pond. Most nests are probably screened to some extent by vegetation or other debris (Johnsgard 1981). Eggs: Dates for 10 clutches ranged from 17 May to 20 June with 6 recorded between 21 May and 10 June. Sizes for 9 clutches ranged from 3 to 4 eggs (3E-3, 4E-6). Incubation period is about 23 days (Bent 1927). Young: Dates for 13 broods ranged from 18 June to 23 July with 7 recorded between 27 June and 4 July. Sizes for 12 broods ranged from 1 to 4 young (1Y-3, 2Y-3, 3Y-3, 4Y-3).

Remarks A coastal breeding record was reported by Brooks (1923a) who stated that C. de B. Green found Greater Yellowlegs already hatched in late May 1921 when he arrived on Porcher Island near Prince Rupert. Green considered the species a 'fairly common' breeder there. However, evidence to confirm breeding is lacking, and we have excluded this record from the account. We also have a recent report of 3 pairs of Yellowlegs on territory and "obviously breeding" on Banks Island (T.E. Reimchen pers. comm.). The birds were seen in May/June 1987, but unfortunately the species of Yellowlegs was not determined. This lends support to the C. de B. Green record and will alert observers visiting islands off the north mainland coast to the possibility that Yellowlegs nest there. Observers in northeastern British Columbia should also be alert to the possibility of nesting birds there. For example, a very agitated Greater Yellowlegs was encountered at Kledo Creek in both July 1985 and July 1986; on the first encounter the bird actually attacked one of the observers (C. Siddle pers. comm.).