Common Redshank

Photo by A. Meir
Eilat, Israel, December 2005

Tringa totanus

Identification

27cm

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

Flight

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

Similar Species

Ruff

Distribution

Widespread throughout Europe, Asia and Africa

Taxonomy

Photo by Reels

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].

Habitat

A variety of wetlands.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes invertebrates.

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.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Tringa totanus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

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

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Redshank. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Redshank

External Links

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