Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tracking Data for Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Active
By Alaska Science Center
January 12, 2026
Available here are tracking data of Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes). These data were collected to inform the spatiotemporal migratory patterns of Lesser Yellowlegs between subarctic breeding areas in Alaska and Canada and wintering areas in South America, the Caribbean, Central America, and the contiguous United States.
Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH
Tracking Maps
Lesser Yellowlegs Tracking Maps
This webpage contains a visualization of the tracking data.
- Shorebirds Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
- Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
Data Packages
Argos GPS Satellite Telemetry Data
These data packages contain the data collected from GPS satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The package includes processed location data. The processed data include location data estimated by GPS and the Argos System (Doppler). They have been filtered for location plausibility.
- Processed Data [Metadata] [Data Download, 0.2MB zip]
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Johnson, J.A., McDuffie, L.A., 2024. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracking data for Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) (ver 1.0, April 2024): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9C7JWCC
Below are other science products associated with Lesser Yellowlegs.
USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
Below are multimedia items associated with Lesser Yellowlegs.
Lesser Yellowlegs watches over chicks
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Spectrum of the Lesser Yellowlegs hatching phase
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs eggs
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating eggs
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chick foraging in boreal forest
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insectsLesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insectsLesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Below are other science products associated with Lesser Yellowlegs.
USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
Below are multimedia items associated with Lesser Yellowlegs.
Lesser Yellowlegs watches over chicks
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Spectrum of the Lesser Yellowlegs hatching phase
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs eggs
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating eggs
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chick foraging in boreal forest
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insectsLesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insectsLesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.