Common Redshank

Exe Estuary, South Devon, UK

The Common Redshank breeds in temperate regions of Europe and Asia and migrates south in winter to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, including UK, and further south to Africa and southern AsiaI. It is a widely distributed species and locally can be very common. The bird above in winter plumage was photographed in the Exe Estuary, South Devon, United Kingdom.

Habitat

Although common redshanks prefer to forage around estuaries and coastal lagoons in winter, they often breed inland in wetlands or or higher ground as well as in salt marshes. 

Feeding

The Common Redshank feeds worms, spiders and insects when inland during the breeding season but at other times the diet includes fish, molluscs and crustaceans. It probes the ground with its long beak and although a wader, it may occasionally swim.

Breeding

The common redshank is monogamous and mating and breeding occurs April to June during the northern spring and summer. The nest is a shallow depression adjacent to a grass clump which protects the eggs and chicks. Both male and female build the nest, incubate the eggs and raise the chicks, although the female leaves the nesting site first while the male remains until the chicks fledge. The eggs are whitish with attractive brown markings. The chicks are precocious and leave the nest to forage after 24 hours.

Wildfile Extra

• Redshanks are nervous, noisy birds and their raucous alarm call is diagnostic and often the first indication of their presence.