Redshank- Hebridean Birds
Western Isles Birds - Redshank - Hebridean Birds - Western Isles Birds.
Redshank - Hebridean Birds - Western Isles Birds - Birdlife and Bird Sightings in the Hebrides.
Redshanks have long bright orange-red legs, bills with red base - a medium sized wader. It is grey-brown above and whitish below.
They fly fast, tilting from side to side, holding their wings upraised after landing.
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| Bird Overview - Redshank |
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| Description |
A medium sized wading bird really elegant. the redshank has longish red legs and a long, straight bill which is black with a red base.
It is grey-brown above and whitish with dark spots below. In flight, it shows very obvious white rear edges to the wings and a white 'V-shape' up its back. Non breeding plumage is paler and less spotted. Both sexes look similar.
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| Size |
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| Habitat |
These birds - the redshanks like the wet moorlands, coastal marshes, inland lakes and lochs.
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| Food |
Earthworms, insects, small frogs, tadpoles, molluscs, crustaceans
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| Voice |
The redshanks have a melodious piping
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| Breeding |
Redshanks breed on damp fields, meadows and moorland. Redshanks nest on the ground. The nest is a shallow scrape or hollows on a hummock or at the base of a tuft of grass, often well hidden by overhanging leaves.
The species usually nests solitarily inland - but sometimes in larger groups on the coast - 4eggs - April - June . Incubation 22 - 25 days - the young fledge from 25 days. When breeding redshanks often perch on a gate or fence post in order to watch their territory and watching for rivals or predators.
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| Misc. Info |
The redshank is by far the commonest European wading bird. We see lots of these birds on The Western Isles. This bird is sometimes known as " the sentinel of the marsh" - the name been given because the redshank has a habit of sounding a noisy alarm call when any intruder enters its territory. Many other birds take advantage of this watchfulness and alarm calling and nest alongside the redshanks - (oyster catchers, plovers for example)
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