Overview

Spotted Redshank: Large sandpiper, mostly black body except for white rump, white spots on wings, barred tail. Bill is red with black tip. Legs and feet are dark red. Feeds and forages on land or in shallow water by probing in mud, and sweeping bill back and forth. Swift direct flight when flushed.

Range and Habitat

Spotted Redshank: Breeds in northern Eurasia. Spends winters from Mediterranean region to eastern China south to equatorial Africa and southeast Asia. In spring and fall rarely visits Aleutians. Preferred habitats include freshwater or brackish wetlands, including sewage farms, irrigated rice fields, brackish lagoons, salt marshes, and sheltered muddy shores along coasts.

Breeding and Nesting

Spotted Redshank: Four green eggs with large black brown blotches are laid in a grass tussock or on moss clump sparsely lined with plant material. Incubation ranges from 23 to 24 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Spotted Redshank: Feeds mainly on insects, small crustaceans, mollusks, worms, fish, and amphibians. Forages on land or in shallow water, gleaning from surfaces or probing; occasionally swims while feeding in deep water, and may immerse head and neck completely.

Vocalization

Spotted Redshank: Very noisy; call is a harsh "chueet, chueet."

Similar Species

Spotted Redshank: Common Redshank has brown upperparts, and white underparts with streaks on head, neck, and upper breast.