Scientific Name: Tringa totanus
Malay Name: Kedidi Kaki Merah Biasa
Chinese Name: 红脚鹬
Range:
Breeds in the Palearctic from central Europe to eastern Siberia; winters in tropical Africa through the Middle East and Indian subcontinent to southeast Asia.
Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: robusta, totanus, ussuriensis, terrignotae, craggi, eurhina.
Size: 30-34 cm
Identification:
A medium-sized wader with distinctive, bright orange-red legs. Similar to the much rarer Spotted Redshank, but much shorter- and thicker-billed with significantly less red on bill base; in flight, also shows extensive white on secondaries. Grey-tailed Tattler, which is greyer overall and shorter-legged, has yellow rather than red legs; Terek Sandpiper may show orange legs but has a highly distinctive upturned bill. Black spotting on breast, lower flanks, vent, and upperparts in breeding plumage fades in non-breeding season, but is still apparent on some individuals as late as August.
Similar looking species: Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank
Habitat: Mudflats, sandflats, and brackish lagoons.
Behaviour/Ecology: Normally gregarious. Highly active while feeding, running to grab food, occasionally probing.
Local Status: Common migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Any site with suitable habitat such as Sungei Buloh, Seletar Dam, and Chek Jawa.
Photos:
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Tringa totanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.
Van Gils, J., Wiersma, P., & Kirwan, G. M. (2020). Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Version 1.0 in del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A., & de Juana, E. (Eds.), Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.