Common Redshank, Redshank  |  

The Common Redshank is 27–29 cm long, has a wingspan of 48–55 cm and weighs around 120 g. It is a somewhat dumpy wader, with long orange-red legs and a straight, medium-length bill with a reddish base. With regards to its plumage, the species is characterised by a bold white rump and a V on the back. It has a broad white trailing-edge to innerwing in flight. In flight the feet project beyond the tip of the tail (Higgins & Davies 1996). In Australia, the Common Redshank has been recorded at scattered locations. In Queensland, the species is known to occur in the Cairns district. In New South Wales (NSW) there is a record at Wallagoot Lakes. In South Australia (SA), the species is known to occur at the ICI Saltfields, St Kilda and Bool Lagoon. In Western Australia (WA), the species is vargrant to the south-west with records at Peel Inlet, Coodanup, the Gascoyne region, Coral Bay and Carnarvon (Higgins & Davis 1996). It is regular and widespread in the north-west, from the Dampier Saltfields to Roebuck Bay and Broome. There is also a record at Ashmore Reef. In the Northern Territory (NT), the species is an irregular visitor to Darwin. It has also been recorded near Buffalo Creek, Cameron Beach, Lee Point, the Sanderson Sewage Farm, the Palmerston Sewage Farm and Elizabeth Downs (Higgins & Davies 1996).