Page 190 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Tringa erythropus
Spotted Redshank

white stripe
above eye black stripe
pale spots to eye
plain upperwings
on back
pale grey
head
white
back fine, long,
blackish dark legs mid-grey red-based
below upperparts black bill
legs project ADULT ADULT
beyond tail (WINTER) (SUMMER)
pale grey
IN FLIGHT
breast
white stripe
between eye
dark and bill bright white
below
brownish
body
vivid red legs
heavily
barred flanks
red legs
ADULT
JUVENILE (AUTUMN) (WINTER)
f the larger waders, the Spotted Redshank is
Oone of the more dynamic and energetic in its
feeding actions: small groups are often found leaping, FLIGHT: fast and direct; legs trail (occasionally
running, upending, and diving for tiny fish in shallow tucked forwards).
water. Individual migrants are generally located by
their highly distinctive flight calls.They are scarce
in winter, and are mostly seen in late summer or
autumn, as they are restricted to the far northern parts
of Europe as breeding birds.
VOICE Loud, sharp, clearly enunciated tchew-it!
NESTING Hollow on open ground; 4 eggs; 1 brood;
May–July. FEEDING
FEEDING Often in water, dashing after prey, not Small groups of Spotted Redshanks feed in creeks and pools, darting
probing; takes fish fry, worms, and molluscs. after prey and even upending like ducks.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in forest bogs and on
REDSHANK similar GREENSHANK open tundra in far N Europe. At
to adult winter; see p.189
see p.187 other times, in freshwater and
brackish lagoons, salt-marsh
creeks, edges of lakes and
browner shorter dull green slightly reservoirs inland, with small
upturned
bill legs numbers wintering in estuaries.
shorter bill
legs Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 29–32cm (11 1 ⁄2 –12 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 48–52cm (19–20 1 ⁄2in) Weight 135–250g (5–9oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
188