Family: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Snipes, Phalaropes)

Authority: (Gmelin, 1789)

Red List Category

Criteria: A2bd

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Justification of Red List category
A moderately rapid reduction in the population of Greater Yellowlegs is estimated to be taking place based on analysis of migration count data, but with considerable uncertainty due to contradictory trends between Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data and the migratory count data. Potentially significant levels of mortality in parts of the non-breeding range and along migratory routes have the potential to be driving declines that the poor coverage of the BBS survey for the species has so far not detected. Loss of key habitat may also contribute, though the species is able to use a wide range of wet habitat and it is unclear that the amount of habitat available has declined. The magnitude of the population decline is uncertain, and the migration count data itself may not adequately sample this species, but it is considered the most representative dataset for the species. The range and population size are large. On a precautionary basis due to the recorded rate of population reduction, Greater Yellowlegs is assessed as Near Threatened.

Population size: 137000-6860000 mature individuals

Population trend: decreasing

Extent of occurrence (breeding/resident): 9,000,000 km²

Country endemic: no

Attributes
Realm - Indomalayan
Realm - Nearctic
Realm - Neotropical
Realm - Palearctic
IUCN System - Freshwater
IUCN System - Terrestrial
IUCN System - Marine