From Opus

Photo by A. Meir
Eilat, Israel, December 2005

Tringa totanus

[edit] Identification

27cm

• Brownish upperparts
• Pale underparts
• Streaked flanks & breast
• Whitish eye-ring
• Short supercilium
• Long black-tipped red bill
• Red legs

[edit] Flight

• White rump extending up the back, finishing in a 'v' shape
• White trailing edges to wings

[edit] Similar Species

Ruff

[edit] Distribution

Widespread throughout Europe, Asia and Africa

[edit] Taxonomy

Photo by Reels

[edit] Subspecies

There are 6 subspecies^[1]:

• T. t. robusta:

• Iceland, Faeroes and Scotland; winters British Isles and western Europe

• T. t. totanus:

• Scandinavia to Iberia; winters to Africa, India and Indonesia

• T. t. ussuriensis:

• Siberia and Mongolia to eastern Russia; winters to Africa and India

• T. t. terrignotae:

• Southern Manchuria; winters in south-eastern Asia

• T. t. craggi:

• North-western China (north-western Xinjiang); winter grounds unknown

• T. t. eurhinus:

• Pamir Mountains to northern India and Tibet; winters in India

Two additional subspecies, britannica and ''meinertzhageni are generally considered invalid^[2].

[edit] Habitat

A variety of wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes invertebrates.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a shallow depression on the ground, concealed near or under vegetation; the male builds the base and the female lines it with twigs and leaves. 3-5 eggs are laid and incubated by both parents for 22-25 days.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Avibase
3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
4. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
5. Naturia
6. Whatbird

• List of references

[edit] External Links