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8

Common Redshank

(Tringa totanus)
Alternate name(s): "Redshank"
German name(s): "Rotschenkel"

Size: 27-29 cm; wing span 59-66 cm
Weight: 85-220 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 Redshank at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "totanus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in fresh breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Redshank in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Redshank in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018]

Dorsal view of a Common Redshank in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018]

Comparison of Common Redshanks in breeding plumage with a Common Shelduck (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Harlesiel and Schilling, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire, England, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Samouco, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-frontal and lateral views of Common Redshanks in non-breeding plumage foraging in coastal vegetation
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Comparison of the lateral head profiles of the two species of redshank in non-breeding plumage: Common Redshank on the left; Spotted Redshank on the right (photos courtesy of J. Pires)

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2017]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, March 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Samouco, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Forte do Rato, Tavira, Faro, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage foraging in a mudflat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, January 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Samouco, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage foraging in a mudflat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage foraging in coastal vegetation (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage, with a feeding female Northern Shoveler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire, England, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, January 2019]

Common Redshanks in non-breeding plumage foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2016]

Lateral and ventral view of Common Redshanks in non-breeding plumage in flight; note the characteristic pattern of white on wings and rump on the upper bird (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, Jnauary 2020]

Near-dorsal view onto the upperparts of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, February 2019]

Dorsal view of a Common Redshank in non-breeding plumage just after take-off; note the characteristic wedge-shaped white patch on the back (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Setubal, Portugal, January 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile(?) Common Redshank; note the dark base of the bill and the pale fringes of the wing coverts (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

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.

redshnk_jp_20230502.mp3 totanus (Portugal) Contact calls © JP
redshnk_jp_20230109.mp3 totanus (Portugal) Contact calls © JP
redshnk_jp_20230109.mp3 totanus (Portugal) Contact calls © JP
redshnk_dw_20190519.m4a totanus (Poland) Contact calls, in-flight © DW
redshnk_dw_20200612_2.m4a totanus (Poland) Contact calls, warning, alarm/departure © DW
redshnk_dw_20200612.m4a totanus (Poland) Warning calls © DW
redshnk_dw_20210626.m4a totanus (Poland) Warning/alarm calls © DW
redshnk_jp_20200720.m4a totanus (Portugal) ? © JP
grnshnk_jp_20230502.mp3 totanus (Portugal) Various (+ Common Greenshank) © JP

More Common Redshank 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.

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