by Anna Hofman

Created on: June 16, 2010

The Redshank or "Tringa Totanus" is a beautiful and elegant wader bird of medium size. It has red or dark pink legs, with unwebbed toes (which is the usual with wader birds). It's bill is long, straight and pointed, and is the same colour as the legs - usually darkening at the middle and becoming black near the tip. Redshanks have a white V shaped pattern across their backs, over grey and brown plumage. In flight, you will notice very obvious white edges marking the wings and a white underside. They are from the Sandpiper ("scolopacidae"), family, and you will notice that they share a strong resemblance to other Sandpipers and wader birds.

Redshanks are fairly common, wide spread birds in the United Kingdom, where they breed, nest and live. Especially along coasts, beaches, and grasslands, where they feed and breed. Like all wader birds they build their nests on the ground. They can be seen all year round in the United Kingdom, especially in the northern part where beaches, mudflats and grasslands are more widespread. They seem to prefer breeding and nesting on well grazed areas of upper saltmarsh, especially if it is dominated by sea-couch grass, which is a good material for nesting, and providing hiding areas if in abundance. In the UK, certain conservationist bodies, including the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), have increased cattle grazing on salt marsh areas so that wader birds have more space to nest. Although salt marshes seem to be the preferred area to live on, they are also spotted around brackish and fresh-water habitats. In winter, it can be found on marshes and near estuaries.

They are often mistaken for the Spotted Redshank, which is very similar, although it is slightly larger, and the Ruff - which is almost identical, but it has a more yellow tinted neck and under-side than the white neck and belly seen with Redshanks. The Spotted Redshank can be told apart from Redshanks since it has much darker wings and a much paler body and neck.

Their diet consists of molluscs, earthworms, crustaceans, insects and some plants that they find. This is why they are often seen on mudflats, picking up any worms or insects that are unable get away. If stranded, Redshanks will pick up small fish, although this is a rare circumstance for them to come across. They have a loud, piping call and are very alert, noisy birds in general.

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