Common Redshank

The Common Redshank is a medium-sized wading bird easily recognised by its bright orange-red legs and the base of its bill. During the breeding season, adults have brown upper feathers that are heavily streaked and spotted with black. In winter, they look greyer and less marked. The white edge on the back of the wing and the white patch on the rump are easy to spot when the bird is flying. It also makes loud, pleasant calls. This bird is common across the UK. It breeds in coastal marshes, wet grasslands, and moorlands, preferring places with short plants near water. Outside the breeding season, Redshanks gather on estuaries and mudflats where they search actively for small creatures to eat. They are often the first to give alarm calls when disturbed. Because of this, the Common Redshank acts like a lookout for other wading birds, which has earned it the nickname "warden of the marshes" among birdwatchers.