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The Lesser Yellowlegs breeds primarily in inaccessible boreal habitats and winters primarily in northern South America (Tibbitts and Moskoff 1999). Nevertheless, two surveys offer population status information for the species at different times of year, though neither provide complete coverage of the Canadian population: Shorebird Migration Monitoring data are collected during fall migration across the continent, and Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data are collected during the breeding season from the southern and western edges of the species' breeding range in Canada. Results from the migration monitoring surveys suggest a large decrease in continental abundance relative to about 1970. BBS results agree, showing large decreases in abundance in the Canadian and continental (includes Alaskan breeders as well as Canadian) populations (all Bird Conservation Regions for which there are reasonably reliable BBS results in Canada are shown below). Taken together, and despite their limitations, these results indicate a large decrease in abundance relative to about 1970, with medium reliability (i.e. the population is unlikely to be increasing). The Lesser Yellowlegs is currently below the lowest acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see North America graph below).
Additional information on: Analyses of Shorebird Migration Monitoring Data
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis
