Shanks

Shanks
Common Redshank
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family†: Scolopacidae
Genera Tringa Xenus Actitis Heterosceles Catoptrophorus
† see also: wader

The shanks are a group of wading bird species, characterised by a medium length bill and long, often brightly coloured legs. They chase visible prey, rather than probing like most waders.

These species are more associated with temperate regions for breeding than the rest of this largely arctic family. they are more often found in fresh water environments than many waders.

Unusually for waders, some of this group nest in trees, using the old nests of other birds.

Species are:

• Family: Scolopacidae (part)
  • Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus
  • Common Redshank, Tringa totanus
  • Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
  • Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
  • Nordmann's Greenshank, Tringa guttifer
  • Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
  • Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
  • Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
  • Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
  • Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola

Closely related to the shanks are a few other species, including the two tattlers and the four other very distinctive species.

• Terek Sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
• Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
• Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia
• Grey-tailed Tattler, Heterosceles brevipes
• Wandering Tattler, Heterosceles incanus
• Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus