BirdUp · Species
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia(Gunnerus, 1767)
- Order
- CHARADRIIFORMES
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Tringa
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Commonness
- Very common
- Best seen
- Year-round
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
The common greenshank is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. The genus name Tringa is the Neo-Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific nebularia is from Latin nebula "mist". Like the Norwegian Skoddefoll, this refers to the greenshank's damp marshy habitat.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 01
Distinctly upturned bill
The lower mandible curves gently upwards, giving the entire bill a characteristic upturned appearance.
- 02
Prominent white wedge on back in flight
A striking white triangular patch is visible on the rump and lower back, extending high up the back and contrasting with darker wings.
- 03
Long, greenish-grey legs
Legs are noticeably long with a dull olive-green to grey-green colouration, extending well beyond the tail in flight.
- 04
Pale grey head, neck, and breast (non-breeding)
In non-breeding plumage, the head and breast are pale grey with fine, diffuse streaking, contrasting with clean white underparts.
02 · Where
Where to find it
- Breeding range
- Inland and coastal subarctic to temperate taiga wetlands of Palearctic: north Europe to east Siberia: Scotland, Scandinavia and Baltic states east through temperate Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Amurland (south-east Russia)
- Non-breeding range
- South-west PAL, AF, OR, AU : inland and coastal south temperate to tropical Old World: south-west and south Europe, Canary and Cape Verde is. (Macaronesia, west of north Africa), Africa, Malagasy region, Middle East, south and south-east Asia to east China, Indonesian Arch., New Guinea region, Australia and Tasmania, Taiwan, Korean Pen., central and south Japan, Mariana Is. and Palau (west Micronesia)
03 · When
When to look
Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
4 photos
The BirdUp app
Log your next Common Greenshank in the field
A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.