What am I?
As its name suggests, redshanks’ most distinctive features are their bright orange-red legs.
They have a medium-length bill with an orange base to match, brown speckled back and wings and paler belly.
Redshank
Redshank
How to spot them
Brownish all over, with a paler belly, the redshank is one of only two waders that has bright red legs; the spotted redshank also has red legs, but is larger, with longer legs and a longer bill. The redshank has a straight bill, which is red at the base and black at the end. When it flies, it shows a white triangular wedge up its back and a wide, white triangle on its rear
Where to see them
Wintering birds can be seen in large numbers around estuaries and coastal wetlands.
Conservation status
The redshank is amber listed in the UK (Opens in a new window) .
Did you know?
Large numbers of redshank fly here from Iceland to spend the winter around our coasts.