redshank

The redshank (Tringa totanus) is a wading bird in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. It breeds across temperate Europe and Asia and migrates to Africa and parts of southern Asia for the winter. The species is named for its conspicuously red legs, a feature visible in many individuals throughout the year.

Adults are medium-sized shorebirds with long legs and a relatively long, straight bill. They have brown, lightly streaked upperparts and paler underparts, with seasonal changes in plumage that can make them look more muted outside the breeding season. Their flight is fast and direct, often with rapid wingbeats.

Redshanks inhabit shallow wetlands, including marshes, riverbanks, and tidal mudflats. They forage by probing mud and shallow water for invertebrates such as worms, insect larvae, and crustaceans, often feeding by feel as they sweep their bills side to side.

Breeding takes place on the ground in grasses or other vegetation near water. The clutch typically contains 3–4 eggs, and both parents participate in incubation and chick rearing. Chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and fledge after several weeks, with juveniles gradually gaining full independence.

In terms of conservation, the redshank is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and large overall population. However, regional declines have occurred in areas where wetland loss and drainage reduce suitable habitat.