12-10-2024 TRAMORE BANK, COUNTY WATERFORD - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

The common redshank or simply redshank (Tringa totanus ) is a Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.

Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.

The spotted redshank (T. erythropus ), which breeds in the Arctic, has a longer bill and legs; it is almost entirely black in breeding plumage and very pale in winter. It is not a particularly close relative of the common redshank, but rather belongs to a high-latitude lineage of largish shanks. T. totanus on the other hand is closely related to the marsh sandpiper (T. stagnatilis ), and closer still to the small wood sandpiper (T. glareola ). The ancestors of the latter and the common redshank seem to have diverged around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, about 5–6 million years ago. These three subarctic- to temperate-region species form a group of smallish shanks with have red or yellowish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued light brown above with some darker mottling, and have somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.

21-7-2024 VIGUR ISLAND, ICELAND - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

The common redshank or simply redshank (Tringa totanus) is a Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.

The common redshank was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Scolopax totanus. It is now placed with twelve other species in the genus Tringa that Linnaeus had introduced in 1758. The genus name Tringa is the Neo-Latin name given to the green sandpiper by the Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi in 1603 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific totanus is from Tótano, the Italian name for this bird.

Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.

The spotted redshank (T. erythropus), which breeds in the Arctic, has a longer bill and legs; it is almost entirely black in breeding plumage and very pale in winter. It is not a particularly close relative of the common redshank, but rather belongs to a high-latitude lineage of largish shanks. T. totanus on the other hand is closely related to the marsh sandpiper (T. stagnatilis), and closer still to the small wood sandpiper (T. glareola). The ancestors of the latter and the common redshank seem to have diverged around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, about 5–6 million years ago. These three subarctic- to temperate-region species form a group of smallish shanks with have red or yellowish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued light brown above with some darker mottling, and have somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.

The common redshank is a widespread breeding bird across temperate Eurasia. It is a migratory species, wintering on coasts around the Mediterranean, on the Atlantic coast of Europe from Ireland and Great Britain southwards, and in South Asia. They are uncommon vagrants outside these areas; on Palau in Micronesia for example, the species was recorded in the mid-1970s and in 2000. A tagged redshank was spotted at Manakudi Bird Sanctuary, Kanniyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India in the month of April 2021.

They are wary and noisy birds which will alert everything else with their loud piping call.

Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to saltmarsh, often at high densities. They lay 3–5 eggs.

Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates.

The common redshank is widely distributed and quite plentiful in some regions, and thus not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

8-5-2024 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, ALBUFERA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.

The spotted redshank (T. erythropus ), which breeds in the Arctic, has a longer bill and legs; it is almost entirely black in breeding plumage and very pale in winter. It is not a particularly close relative of the common redshank, but rather belongs to a high-latitude lineage of largish shanks. T. totanus on the other hand is closely related to the marsh sandpiper (T. stagnatilis ), and closer still to the small wood sandpiper (T. glareola ). 

The ancestors of the latter and the common redshank seem to have diverged around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, about 5–6 million years ago. These three subarctic- to temperate-region species form a group of smallish shanks with have red or yellowish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued light brown above with some darker mottling, and have somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.

Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates.

Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to saltmarsh, often at high densities. They lay 3–5 eggs.

The common redshank is widely distributed and quite plentiful in some regions, and thus not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

27-12-2022 CAPE POINT, GAMBIA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3879-Tringa-totanus

18-10-2022 EL PINET, ALICANTE - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3879-Tringa-totanus

19-4-2022 MANDINA LODGE, GAMBIA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3879-Tringa-totanus

6-5-2022 EL SALER, VALENCIA - COMMON REDSHANK

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3879-Tringa-totanus

2-11-2020 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3879-Tringa-totanus

 

25-7-2018 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

22-2-2018 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

31-5-2017 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

The Common Redshank, Tringa totanus, is a Eurasian wader belonging to the large family Scolopacidae. Exhibiting a striking change in plumage, they don a marbled brown color during the breeding season, which transitions to a plainer greyish-brown above and whitish below in the winter. Their legs are a vibrant red, complemented by a black-tipped red bill. In flight, they reveal a distinctive white pattern up the back and on the wings.

To identify the Common Redshank, look for the red legs and the black-tipped red bill, which are characteristic of the species. The white trailing edge on the wings is also a key feature, particularly visible during flight. In breeding plumage, they exhibit a marbled brown coloration, while in winter, they adopt a less patterned greyish-brown and whitish color scheme.

Redshanks are versatile in their choice of wetland habitats, ranging from damp meadows to saltmarshes. They are often found in high densities within these environments.

This species is a widespread breeder across temperate Eurasia and migrates to winter on coasts around the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast of Europe, and in South Asia. They are occasionally recorded as vagrants in areas such as Micronesia.

The Common Redshank is known for its wariness and its loud, piping call, which can serve as an alarm to other creatures in the vicinity.

Redshanks are not particular about their nesting sites, as long as the location is a wetland. They can nest at high densities and lay clutches of 3–5 eggs.

Their diet consists primarily of small invertebrates, which they forage for in their wetland habitats.

The IUCN considers the Common Redshank to be of Least Concern, indicating a stable population. However, it is listed as Vulnerable in Europe. The species is also protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

The Spotted Redshank, T. erythropus, is similar but can be distinguished by its longer bill and legs. In breeding plumage, it is almost entirely black, and in winter, it is very pale, contrasting with the Common Redshank's seasonal coloration.

The Common Redshank's call is a distinctive, loud "teu-teu-teu," often heard as they take to the air in alarm or while in flight.

29-9-2016 MALDON, ESSEX - COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)

Common redshanks in breeding plumage are a marbled brown color, slightly lighter below. In winter plumage they become somewhat lighter-toned and less patterned, being rather plain greyish-brown above and whitish below. They have red legs and a black-tipped red bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight.

The spotted redshank (T. erythropus ), which breeds in the Arctic, has a longer bill and legs; it is almost entirely black in breeding plumage and very pale in winter. It is not a particularly close relative of the common redshank, but rather belongs to a high-latitude lineage of largish shanks. T. totanus on the other hand is closely related to the marsh sandpiper (T. stagnatilis ), and closer still to the small wood sandpiper (T. glareola ). 

The ancestors of the latter and the common redshank seem to have diverged around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, about 5–6 million years ago. These three subarctic- to temperate-region species form a group of smallish shanks with have red or yellowish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued light brown above with some darker mottling, and have somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.

The ancestors of the latter and the common redshank seem to have diverged around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, about 5–6 million years ago. These three subarctic- to temperate-region species form a group of smallish shanks with have red or yellowish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued light brown above with some darker mottling, and have somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.

Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates.

Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to saltmarsh, often at high densities. They lay 3–5 eggs.

The common redshank is widely distributed and quite plentiful in some regions, and thus not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.