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Common Greenshank - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by kingfisher
Tringa nebularia

Identification

  • Grey-brown upperparts
  • Pale underparts
  • Dark grey flecks on head and neck
  • Narrow white eye ring
  • Dark outer-wing
  • White rump and back
  • Dark to green-grey long, upward curved bill
  • Yellowish-green long legs

Breeding birds

  • Bold black chevrons on chest
  • Heavily streaked and marked upper body
Photo © by IanF
RSPB Saltholme, Cleveland, UK, September 2010

Distribution

Africa, Coastal Asia, India, the Philippines, southern New Guinea and Australia.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Subspecies glottoides is not recognised by most authorities[2].

Habitat

Coastal areas and inland, estuaries, mudflats, mangrove swamps, lagoons, swamps, and flooded crops.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes insects, worms, molluscs, small fish and crustaceans.

Breeding

The male builds the nest, a shallow depression lined with feathers and vegetation. Both sexes share the incubation and the raising of the young.

Vocalisation

Call: tyew_tyew_tyew
Song: repetitive and persistant clu_wee" delivered in high flight.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Avibase
  3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
  4. Birds in Backyards

Recommended Citation

External Links


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