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PLATE 43: SANDPIPERS I
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus PM, WV
L: 30. W: 64. Medium-sized, rather slim wader with red legs. In winter plumage recalls Common
Redshank, but larger with paler grey upperparts, white underparts, and longer, finer bill, slightly
drooping at tip. Upper mandible wholly black, lower red with black tip. In breeding plumage black,
finely spotted white. In flight, shows all-dark wings, distinctive white rump extending in wedge
up back, and feet projecting well beyond tail. Voice Flight call distinct piercing disyllabic tju-it.
Habitat As Common Redshank, but freshwater and lagoons more than open tidal settings.
Note Passage and winter hatched.Common Redshank Tringa totanus PM, WV
L: 28. W: 62. Greyish with bright red legs, in flight showing broad white trailing edge to wings
and white on rump extending up back. Breeding adult dark-spotted, with red base to bill. Winter
plumage uniform grey above, paler grey below with ill-defined spotted breast. Juvenile has buff-
spotted upperparts and all-dark bill. Larger and slimmer juvenile Spotted Redshank has greyer
upperparts, heavily barred or vermiculated underparts, finer, longer bill and different wing pattern.
Voice Calls distinctive; disyllabic djü-dü, with stress on first syllable; alarm a persistent tj ü-tj ü-tj ü....
Habitat Breeds in damp grassland; on passage and winter mainly coastal shores, mudflats; also
inland wetlands. Note Passage and winter hatched.Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis PM, WV
L: 23. W: 57. Resembles small, slim Common Greenshank with proportionately longer legs
and thin, straight, finely pointed bill. Face almost white, usually with distinctive supercilium.
Flight pattern similar to Greenshank with dark wings, contrasting white tail and wedge up
back; protruding legs distinctive beyond tip of tail. Flight action rapid and more similar to Wood
Sandpiper. Winter plumage rather uniform, paler grey than Greenshank with almost white face
and distinctive supercilium. In breeding plumage, becomes markedly black-spotted on head and
upperparts; legs usually more yellowish. Voice Flight call a clear djeeu-djeeu often repeated,
weaker and less shrill than Common Greenshank. Habitat Freshwater wetlands, tidal creeks and
flats. Note Passage and winter hatched.Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia PM, WV
L: 32. W: 69. Larger than Common Redshank with long greenish legs and fairly long, slightly
upturned greyish-green bill. Flight action slow and jerky with long, dark wings contrasting
with paler head and neck, and conspicuous white tail and wedge up back. In winter plumage
resembles Marsh Sandpiper but darker grey, and darker face lacks pale supercilium. Summer
plumage has black feather-spotting on upperparts and distinctly spotted breast and flanks. Juvenile
uniformly patterned with buff-fringed grey-brown upperparts, white underparts and streaked grey
head, neck and breast. Rather active, often running when feeding in shallow water. Voice Flight call
characteristic shrill trisyllabic djiu-djiu-djiu, with equal stress on all syllables. Marsh Sandpiper’s
call is similar but thinner and less shrill. Habitat Coastal shores, mudflats, inland wetlands.
Note Passage and winter hatched; some oversummer Oman, UAE.Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes V
L: 23–25. Marginally smaller than Common Redshank and clearly more slender with long primary
projection. Legs long, bright yellow. Plumage finely spotted above, with breast diffusely streaked.
In flight wing and tail pattern, especially square white rump, recalls Wood Sandpiper. Bill fine,
straight and all dark. Legs may be paler yellow, even orangey, in winter or in young birds. Supercilium
short, reaching only to eye (unlike Wood Sandpiper). Voice Clear tew, close to that of Common
Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper. Habitat Mainly freshwater edges. Note Vagrant Oman, UAE.