1. Common redshank – Tringa totanus
The common redshank is a medium-sized bird with a body length of 28-30 cm and a weight of 100-120 g. In an adult, the plumage of the upper part of the body is brown, the lower part of the body is white, and there is a characteristic dark brown pattern on the chest. The tail is long and thin. The common redshank has a long, thin beak and strong legs.
Common redshank is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The common redshank is a migratory bird. It lives on shoals, meadows and shores of water bodies. Common redshank nests on the ground, in a small pit covered with grass. The nest is built of grass, leaves and feathers. There are 4-6 eggs in the laying of a common redshank. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch in 20-22 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The common redshank feeds on insects, their larvae, mollusks and crustaceans. Common redshank catches prey on the shoals and shores of reservoirs, walking or running on the water.
Common redshank is a fairly common species, but in some regions its number is decreasing. The reasons for this are the destruction of nesting sites, poaching and pollution of water bodies.
In Ukraine, the common redshank is listed in the Red Book in the status of "Vulnerable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko