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8

Common Greenshank

(Tringa nebularia)
Alternate name(s): "Greenshank"
Size: 30-35 cm; wing span 65-70 cm
Weight: 130-270 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Common Greenshank at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of Common Greenshanks in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, QLD, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Greenshank in breeding plumage; note the characteristic black spots dissecting the white edge-lining on the wing feathers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, QLD, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Greenshank in near-breeding plumage, just prior to departure to the northern hemisphere
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Frontal view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Lateral view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage, here seen in an eutrophic wetland
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage; click on image to see two Royal Spoonbills for comparison (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view of 3 Common Greenshanks in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Dorsal view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul wader roost, Brisbane, QLD, January 2018]

Various views, including near-dorsal and dorsal/ventral, of 3 Common Greenshanks in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Common Greenshanks in non-breeding plumage feeding on the edge of shallow, probably brackish, water in an estuary
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Comparison of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage with a Grey-tailed Tattler, also in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Common Greenshank in fresh-looking non-breeding plumage, left, in comparison with a Marsh Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of 3 Common Greenshanks in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, June 2019]

Dorsal view of a Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage in flight, banking to land (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Additional information

More photos have been obtained by us in Oman and in Europe.

Behaviour

Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage, hunting under water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage, hunting under water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Common Greenshank in non-breeding plumage, hunting under water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

grnshnk_dw_20190819.m4a (Poland) Contact call (arrival) © DW
grnshnk_dw_20200726_3.m4a (Poland) Contact calls © DW
grnshnk_jp_20201016.m4a (Portugal) Contact calls © JP
grnshnk_dw_20200726_2.m4a (Poland) Contact calls Q&A
(+ Wood Sandpiper)
© DW
grnshnk_jp_20200722.m4a (Portugal) Contact calls (+ Common Ringed Plover) © JP
grnshnk_dw_20190819_3.m4a (Poland) Warning calls (humans on the water) © DW
grnshnk_dw_20180818.m4a (Poland) ? © DW
grnshnk_jp_20230502.mp3 (Portugal) Various (+ Common Redshank) © JP

More Common Greenshank sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.