Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus
The Spotted Redshank is a migratory wader that breeds in the bogs and tundra of northern Eurasia. In summer, it features a distinctive sooty-black breeding plumage with fine white spotting, while in winter, it appears ash-grey above. It is characterized by its long, dark red legs and a long, straight bill with a prominent red base on the lower mandible.
Details
Identification
Black breeding plumage (summer), long red legs, long bill with red base, white rump wedge visible in flight.
Social behavior
Often found in flocks during migration; breeds solitarily or in loose groups.
Diet
Insects, larvae, small crustaceans, mollusks, and occasionally small fish.
Hunting strategy
Picks prey from the water surface or probes in mud; can also upend while swimming.
Spawning substrate
Ground nester; nest in a shallow scrape lined with plant material in damp tundra.
Overwintering
Seasonal migration to subtropical and tropical regions.
Ecology
Ecological role
Predator of aquatic invertebrates; link between Arctic breeding grounds and tropical stopover sites.
Natural predators
Raptors, skuas, Arctic foxes.
Competitor species
Other Tringa species such as Common Redshank or Common Greenshank.
Ecosystem service
Regulation of invertebrate populations in wetlands.
Threats
Loss of stopover and breeding habitats due to drainage and climate change.
Scientific profile
Morphology & ID
Breeding plumage
Almost entirely sooty black with fine white spotting on the upperparts; legs appear dark red to almost black in breeding plumage.
Non-breeding plumage
Upperparts pale grey, underparts whitish; prominent white supercilium; legs bright red.
Juvenile plumage
Upperparts dark brown with dense white spotting; underparts finely barred grey-brown; legs more orange-red.
Sexual dimorphism
Slight; females in breeding plumage often slightly less intensely black and more heavily spotted with white than males.
Distinguishing features
Long, slender bill with slightly decurved tip (red base to lower mandible); white wedge on the back (rump) in flight, no white wing bars.
Confusion species
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) - smaller, has a white trailing edge to the wings and a shorter bill.
Bill
Long, straight, and slender; tip of upper mandible slightly overhanging and decurved; base of lower mandible characteristically red.
Vocalization
Song
A rhythmic, whistling "tju-ee-tju-ee", usually delivered during song flight.
Call
Characteristic disyllabic and whip-like "tju-it".
Distribution & migration
Breeding range
Arctic tundra and forest tundra from northern Scandinavia through northern Russia to northeastern Siberia.
Wintering range
Mediterranean basin, sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, India, and Southeast Asia.
Migration details
Long-distance migrant; migrates on a broad front across inland areas and along coasts; uses traditional stopover sites.
Habitat
Breeding habitat
Open, damp bogs, sedge marshes, and sparse taiga forests near the tree line.
Foraging habitat
Mudflats, shallow lagoons, salt pans, flooded meadows, and sewage ponds; often in deeper water than other Tringa species.
Breeding biology
Nest construction
Shallow scrape on the ground, sparsely lined with dry plant material, often sheltered by dwarf shrubs or grass tussocks.
Eggs
Pyriform, olive-green to brownish with bold dark brown spots.
Parental care
Predominantly by the male; the female often leaves the clutch shortly after the chicks hatch to begin migration.
Diet & behaviour
Diet breeding
Aquatic insects (beetles, bugs), larvae (especially chironomids), and small crustaceans.
Diet winter
Small fish, molluscs, annelid worms, and various aquatic insects.
Feeding technique
Peck feeding or sweeping the bill from side to side (like an avocet); frequently swims and upends while foraging.
Foraging strategy
Active searching in shallow to belly-deep water; often utilizes deeper areas than other shanks due to its swimming ability.
Sociality
Gregarious; often forms large, dense flocks during migration and in wintering quarters.
Flock behaviour
Dense flocks when foraging; often associated with other waders such as the Common Greenshank.
Protection & threats
Main threats
Habitat loss through drainage of bogs, climate change in Arctic breeding grounds, and disturbance at key stopover sites.
Population trend
Stable to slightly decreasing; the global population is estimated at approximately 110,000 to 270,000 individuals.
Conservation measures
Protection and management of wetlands (Ramsar sites), preservation of undisturbed stopover sites along migration routes.