greenshanks

Greenshanks are a group of wading birds in the family Scolopacidae, most notably the common greenshank (Tringa nebularia). The name is applied to several related species with slender bodies, long legs with a greenish tinge, and relatively long bills. The birds are medium-sized shorebirds, typically 28–32 cm long, with greyish-brown upperparts, pale underparts, and a long, slightly upturned bill. Adults have greenish legs and a pale eyering; juvenile plumage is more heavily streaked.

Greenshanks inhabit shallow wetlands, mudflats, river margins, and marshes. They breed in boreal and temperate zones of Europe and Asia, and migrate to winter in tropical Africa, southern Asia, and parts of the Middle East. They hunt by probing the mud or shallow water for invertebrates, including crustaceans, mollusks, insects, and small fish, often feeding at dawn and dusk.

Nesting occurs on the ground in grasses or heaths, with a simple cup nest. Clutch size is usually 3–4 eggs, incubated by both parents for about three weeks; chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and fledge several weeks later.

Conservation status: Greenshanks are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with generally stable populations though regional declines can occur due to habitat loss and wetland drainage. The species' wide range helps buffer global risk, but local protection of wetlands remains important.