About Tringa erythropus (Pallas, 1764)
Tringa erythropus, the spotted redshank, is a large shorebird. It measures 29 to 31 cm (11 to 12 in) in length, has a wingspan of 61 to 67 cm (24 to 26 in), and weighs between 121 and 205 g (4.3 to 7.2 oz). Adult spotted redshanks have solid black plumage during the breeding season, and very pale plumage in winter. They have red legs and a red bill, and display a distinct white oval patch on their back when in flight. Juveniles are grey-brown with fine white speckling on their upperparts, and have pale underparts marked with fine barring. Complete moulting of adult spotted redshanks occurs between July and October. In spring, adults moult their body plumage between March and May. Juveniles undergo a partial moult between August and February. The species' typical call is a creaking whistle described as teu-it, which is somewhat similar to the call of a roseate tern, while its alarm call is kyip-kyip-kyip. Spotted redshanks breed in the Arctic across most of the Palearctic, ranging from Lapland in the west to Chukotskaya in the east. Like most waders, the spotted redshank feeds on small invertebrates.
