Common Redshank

Common Redshank
Breeding plumage larger image
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae Genus: Tringa Species: totanus
Binomial name
Tringa totanus

The Common Redshank or Redshank is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. This is a widespread breeding bird across Europe and northern Asia. It is a migratory species, wintering on coasts around the Mediterranean, in south Asia, and on the Atlantic coast of Europe from Great Britain southwards.

It is replaced in the Arctic by the closely related Spotted Redshank, which has a longer bill and legs, and is black in breeding plumage, and very pale in winter.

Redshanks have red legs and bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight. They are brown, becoming somewhat lighter-toned in winter.

Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to saltmarsh, often at high densities. They lay 3-5 eggs. These are wary and noisy birds which will alert everything else with their loud piping call. Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates.