The Greater Yellow-Legs {Totanus Meianoiecus) 



By I. N. Mitchell 



Length: 12 inches. 



Range: Breeds from Lake Iliamna, Alaska, and southern Mackenzie to 

 southern British Columbia, Ungava, Labrador, and Anticosti Island; winters 

 from southern California, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia south to Patagonia. 



The Yellow-legs is one of the largest and most conspicuous of our shore- 

 birds, and though greatly reduced in numbers, is still comparatively abundant. 

 Like many other shorebirds, its numbers vary locally and with different years, 

 such fluctuations being chiefly due no doubt to favorable and unfavorable breed- 

 ing seasons in the far North. On the eastern coast the Yellow-legs has learned 

 that flight over the sea to its winter quarters in South America is safer than an 

 all-land route where expectant gunners beset the shores, and this practical knowl- 

 edge has greatly aided in conserving species. The bird has a loud and mellow 

 call note which is easily imitated and if often employed in connection with 

 wooden decoys to lure a flock within range of the deadly shotgun. Experience, 

 however, soon teaches the Yellow-legs to be shy and suspicious, and its long 

 neck and still longer legs eminently fit it for the post of watchman in a flock of 

 shorebirds. For our big wader has a most friendly disposition, and associates 

 on the closest .terms with other members of the long-legged fraternity, both 

 large and small. Hence among them its loud call has come to be recognized as a 

 warning of danger. 



No bird bears a more appropriate name than does this wader with its long 

 yellow legs. In many localities Greater Yellowshanks is the name by which 

 it is commonly known, and who that is acquainted with it does not recognize 

 that the name Tell-tale is also very characteristic of the bird's habits. When 

 flushed, the Yellow-legs excitedly rise from their feeding grounds uttering loud 

 whistling notes which cannot well be expressed in syllables, but are easily imi- 

 tated by the hunter. Other water and shore birds have learned that this piercing 

 whistle is indicative of danger and they, too, take flight. Mr. Wilson has said : 

 ''Nature seems to have intended this bird as a kind of spy, or sentinel, for the 

 safety of the rest ; and so well acquainted are they with the watchful vigilance 

 of this species that while it continues silent among them, the ducks feed in the 

 bogs and marshes without the least suspicion. The great object of the gunner 

 is to escape the penetrating glance of this guardian, which it is sometimes 

 extremely difficult to efifect. On the first whistle of the Tell-tale, if beyond 

 gunshot, the gunner abandons his design." Not only is this whistle of the 

 Tell-tale loud and shrill, but also its very tone is that of alarm. Its usual 

 whistling call notes are so penetrating that, even when the bird is flying at a 

 great height where it is almost invisible to the eye, the sound reaches the earth 

 and can be distinctly heard. It is inquisitive and seldom fails to respond to a 

 good imitation of their call by the hunter. In fact, it will check its onward flight 



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