Tringa erythropus
The Spotted Redshank is a striking wader with distinctive seasonal plumage. In breeding season, it displays a sooty black body with white spots on its upperparts, a long, slender black bill with a red base, and bright red legs.
During winter, it transforms to a pale grey above and white below, retaining its characteristic long, slightly upturned bill and red legs. Unlike the similar Common Redshank, Spotted Redshanks lack the barred wing markings in their winter plumage.
Females and males are similar year-round, although, in summer, the female’s black plumage shows more spotting than the male's. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have buff-edged feathers on their upperparts.
Length
29cm to 31cm
Wingspan
59cm to 67cm
Weight
121g to 205g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Black White
Secondary Colour
Grey
Beak Colour
Black Red
Leg Colour
Red
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Spotted Redshanks breed in the subarctic regions of northern Europe and Asia, favouring boggy areas in taiga and tundra. During migration and winter, they frequent coastal mudflats, estuaries, and inland wetlands.
Countries with the most notable breeding populations include Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.
In the UK, they are regular passage migrants and winter visitors, with significant numbers found along the east and south coasts of England. They are less common in North America, occasionally appearing as vagrants on both coasts.
Up to 1,000 meters
Subarctic, Temperate, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Spotted Redshank. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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