Spotted Redshank
Image: Nelson Conceição (cc-by-nc)
NameSpotted Redshank
Common NameSpotted Redshank
Scientific NameTringa erythropus
FamilyScolopacidae
Wingspan (cm)64
Length (cm)30
Weight (g)170
Plumage DetailsIn breeding plumage, adults are strikingly dark, almost entirely blackish with fine white spotting on the back and flanks, and dark red legs. In non-breeding plumage (as seen in the image), they are pale grey above and white below, often showing a prominent white supercilium. The bill is long, slender, dark with a reddish base, and the legs are duller red or brownish-red.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalization is a distinctive, clear, and fluty 'tew-tew-tew' or 'chu-it' call, often given in flight.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatscoastal lagoons, estuaries, saltmarshes, freshwater marshes, wet grasslands, muddy shores
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in the taiga zone of northern Eurasia, from Scandinavia east across Siberia. Winters in coastal areas of the Mediterranean, Africa, and southern Asia.
Identifying FeaturesLong, slender, slightly upturned bill with reddish base, Long red legs (darker in non-breeding, brighter in breeding), Dark, spotted breeding plumage, Pale grey and white non-breeding plumage with clear supercilium, White rump and barred tail in flight, Fluty 'tew-tew-tew' call
Description
The Spotted Redshank is an elegant, medium-sized wader characterized by its long legs and slender, slightly upturned bill. It typically forages in shallow water or muddy edges, probing for aquatic invertebrates.
