Animalia Life

Tringa erythropus
SUBFAMILY
Tringinae
TAXONOMY
Scolopax erythropus Pallas, 1764, the Netherlands. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Dusky redshank; French: Chevalier arlequin; German: Dunkler wasserlдufer; Spanish: Archibebe Oscuro.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
11.4–12.6 in (29–32 cm); 0.21–0.51 lb (97–230 g). Black both above and below, with white dots on upperparts. In flight, a white wedge on the back and white underwings are visible. Female is slightly larger and paler overall.
DISTRIBUTION
Scandinavia and northwest Russia across northern Siberia to Chukotskiy Peninsula. Winters from Europe to equatorial Africa, east through Persian Gulf to Southeast Asia and Taiwan.
HABITAT
Breeds in lightly wooded tundra and heathland; nonbreeders prefer lakeshores, lagoons, and muddy coasts.
BEHAVIOR
Nonbreeders form flocks, often feeding in dense packs in deep water.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Eats insects, small crustaceans, mollusks, worms, fish, and amphibians. Pecks at prey, sweeps water with bill; sometimes feeds while swimming.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous; sometimes polyandrous. Lays eggs May–June; nests in tussocks or moss. Clutch contains three to five eggs. Female usually leaves before eggs hatch.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Wintering numbers in Europe stable in 1970s. Population in Europe and West Africa 75,000–150,000 (1994); 45,000–75,000 winter East Africa and Asia.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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