| Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) (aka Common / Greater Greenshank) |
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Aberlady Bay, Lothian, Scotland The Greenshank breeds in northern latitudes of Europe and Asia just south of the tundra in taiga and forests. Given these requirements, it is no surprise that it also breeds in north-west Scotland. |
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While Scottish breeders tend to migrate only as far as the south and west of Britain and Ireland, most Greenshanks migrate to sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia and Australia during the northern winter. It feeds on insects and worms as well as small fish which it dashes after in shallow water as in the first two photos. |
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It is slightly larger than the Redshank Tringa totanus with a longer bill showing a slight upcurve. The base of the bill and the legs are greeny-grey. It is generally white below and grey-brown above. In flight it shows a white wedge-shaped rump above a pale tail. There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 3, Pages 479 and 508. |
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 | There are photos of Greenshank in Australia here. |
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