Common Redshank
Scientific Name: Tringa tetanusMaltese Name: Pluverott
Family: Waders (Charadriidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Common Redshank has the typical features of the Tringa waders, with a pale eye ring, straight red based bill and a whitish belly. As it name implies it has bright red legs. In flight has white under wings and broad white bands on upper wings. It has a ringing tyew-yu-yu-teu-teu-yu-yoo call. Like other waders it probes and picks from the shoreline and water edge taking earthworms, crustaceans and molluscs and other aquatic creatures. It builds its nest on hollow ground laying 4 eggs. It breeds in salt marshes and water pools in Northern and Eastern Europe. Unfortunately the Common Redshank has declined in recent years where farmland has been drained and intensified. It is known that Redshanks live up to 10 years.
Status:
In the Maltese Islands, the Redshank is a regular migrant recorded in low single numbers in almost all months of the year but mainly in spring, autumn and summer.
When to See:
From early March till late Ocotber, peaks in July and August.
Where to See:
Ghadira Nature Reserve is without doubt the best place to see this bird. Otherwise is also occasionally recorded at Salina and Simar Nature Reserve.
Photographs:
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Adult Common Redshank, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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Juvenile Common Redshank, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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