Tringa totanus
The Redshank is a medium-sized wader with distinctive bright orange-red legs. Its upperparts are greyish-brown, while the underparts are white with dark streaks. The long, straight bill is orange-red at the base and black at the tip. They have a faint stripe through each eye.
During the breeding season, Redshanks display more heavily spotted and barred plumage. Females appear similar to males, although they are larger, with paler underparts.
Juveniles resemble adults but have buff-edged feathers on the upperparts, giving them a scaly appearance.
Length
27cm to 29cm
Wingspan
45cm to 52cm
Weight
85g to 155g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown Grey
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Orange Red Black
Leg Colour
Orange Red
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Redshanks inhabit coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and estuaries, as well as inland wetlands such as flooded grasslands and the edges of freshwater lakes. They breed across Europe and Asia, from Iceland to Siberia.
In winter, many birds migrate south to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. In the UK, Redshanks are year-round residents, with numbers boosted by winter visitors from Iceland and northern Europe.
Up to 1,000 meters
Temperate, Subarctic, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Redshank. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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