The Greater Yellowlegs typically does not migrate as far south as the Lesser Yellowlegs, which may explain why it is the more common of the two species in this area.

Park records are from Cades Cove in April (1935) with sightings just outside the park from April through early May and September through October (Stupka 1963). The only fall record thus far is from Cades Cove where an individual was seen at the sewage treatment lagoons from November through December of 2006 (S. Hoyle and M. Rudolph; W. Bielenberg ).

References:

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.