Common Redshank

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: Spotted Redshank, Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper

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.

Featured articles:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Common Redshank at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Common Redshank at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Common Redshank at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Common Redshank)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Tringa totanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693211A86687799.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

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. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.comred1.01

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Common Redshank. Retrieved on May 27, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/common-redshank.