The Wandering Tattler breeds throughout much of Alaska, but in Canada, the species is restricted to high-altitude tundra of northwestern British Columbia, Yukon, and western Northwest Territories. The species migrates from these remote habitats to winter singly or in small groups along the Pacific coast or on oceanic islands, making it difficult to study or monitor its population. Results from the Christmas Bird Count on the wintering grounds suggest large decreases in the abundance of Wandering Tattlers since about 1970, but it is unclear to what extent this reflects the trend of the Canadian population. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
One of the least known species in North America, the Wandering Tattler is poorly studied through all parts of its life cycle (Gill et al. 2002). A lack of understanding of the species’ distribution, ecology, and status is perhaps the most immediate management issue. Its small population may make this species vulnerable to disturbances, although this is mitigated by its highly dispersed population, even during migration.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.