Birds · Charadriiformes · Scolopacidae

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its striking bright red or orange legs and its persistent alarm call have earned it the nickname of the warden of the marshes, being the first species to raise the alarm at a predator.

Weight

85 g – 155 g

Size

27 cm – 29 cm

Lifespan

9 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterGrasslandCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Bird Freshwater Grassland

47countries 72parks13same family

Fun facts

comportamientoIt is among the first birds to give the alarm when an intruder appears on the marsh, which is why it is popularly known as the warden of the marshes.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Marshes, wet meadows and estuaries of Europe and Asia, wintering on the coasts of southern Europe, Africa and southern Asia
Birth weight: Exact weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Precocial, able to feed itself soon after hatching
Sexual maturity: 1 year
Gestation / incubation: 22-25 days
Litter / clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs per clutch (most commonly 4)

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); BirdBuddy Wiki; Grokipedia; Birds of the World; SeaLifeBase; Wikipedia (Common redshank); ResearchGate (ageing and sexing study)