The Common Redshank or Redshank (Tringa totanus) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. This is a widespread breeding bird across Europe and northern Asia. It is a migratory species, wintering on coasts around the Mediterranean, in south Asia, and on the Atlantic coast of Europe from Great Britain southwards.
It is replaced in the Arctic by the closely related Spotted Redshank, which has a longer bill and legs, and is black in breeding plumage, and very pale in winter.
Redshanks have red legs and bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight. They are brown, becoming somewhat lighter-toned in winter.
Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to saltmarsh, often at high densities. They lay 3-5 eggs. These are wary and noisy birds which will alert everything else with their loud piping call. Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates.
REDSHANK, the usual name of a bird - the Scolopax calidris of Linnaeus and Totanus calidris of modern authors - so called in English from the colour of the bare part of its legs, which, being also long, are conspicuous as it flies or runs.
In suitable localities it is abundant throughout the greater part of Europe and Asia, from Iceland to China, mostly retiring to the southward for the winter, though a considerable number remain during that season along the coasts and estuaries of some of the more northern countries.
The body of the redshank is as big as a snipe's, but its longer neck, wings and legs make it appear a much larger bird.
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