GREENSHANK. 1 59 



Greenshank. Tringa nehilaria (Gnnner.). 



In northern Europe and Asia the Greenshank (Plate 66) 

 nests south of the Arctic circle, and it visits southern Europe 

 and Africa in winter ; in most parts of the British Isles it is 

 a regular though seldom abundant passage migrant, joining 

 other waders on the shore and frequently appearing on inland 

 waters. In the north of Scotland, and on a number of Scottish 

 islands, it nests in small numbers. A few birds winter in 

 Ireland and, more rarely, in England. 



The long, slightly uptilted bill of the Greenshank is usually a 

 character by which we can separate it from the Redshanks 

 with which it often feeds, but it is a longer-legged, larger bird, 

 and when it rises, though the white rump is very conspicuous, 

 shows no white wing border, for its secondaries are brown. Its 

 pose, too, is different, the body being held horizontal, at right 

 angles to its legs, which has the effect of making it look a much 

 longer bird. Though alert enough, it has little of the nervous 

 ducking action so characteristic of the Redshank. In winter it 

 is a greyer bird, and in summer its back is blacker. It flies 

 quickly, and though quieter than the ever-noisy Redshank, has 

 a clear and distinctive call — choo-tchoo-tckoo — each note well 

 emphasised. Occasionally this is a double chee-weet on rising. 

 The Greenshank reaches its Scottish breeding grounds early, 

 and possibly those which first visit the western shores, some- 

 times by the middle of February, are Scottish birds, slowly 

 working their way north. Passage migration continues through- 

 out April and May. I have seen a returning bird on a Cheshire 

 mere before the end of July, and from then until October 

 migrants pass, singly or in small parties, sometimes halting for 

 several days on the sewage farms or the shallower inland 

 pools. The usual wader diet is varied by the capture of small 

 fish ; Macpherson noticed this on the Solway, and Dr. Patten 

 found the bird feeding on sand-eels. Mr. C. Oldham watched 



