loo PLOVER GROUP 



ThrouLjhout the British Isles the numbers of the redshank are largely 

 reinforced in autumn by the arrival of flocks of migrants from the 

 north, some of which remain on the coasts during the winter. It is 

 ever\-\vhere a war\' bird, which may be recognised at a considerable 

 distance by its loud call-note and the white on the wings. 



As regards the colouring of its plumage, the redshank in summer 

 is pale brown above, closely streaked and barred with umber ; the 

 secondary quills, the lower part of the back, and the upper tail-coverts 

 (which are barred with black), together with the lower portion of the 

 breast and the rest of the under-parts, are white ; while the flanks 

 arc barred and the sides of the head, neck, and fore part of the breast 

 streaked with grc\-ish brown. The hen, though somewhat larger 

 (measuring i i inches in length), resembles the cock, but is neither so 

 mottled above nor so spotted below. The winter-plumage is more 

 uniform, the upper-parts being ash-coloured and the under-parts white 

 streaked and spotted with grey on the neck and breast. In young 

 birds the feathers of the back and wing-coverts have rufous edges. 

 The chick is dirty white with a dark stripe on each side of the middle 

 of the back, and two similar stripes on each side, and a dark stripe 

 between the eye and the beak, continued backwards down the neck. 



The redshank is a frequenter of tidal rivers and estuaries in Great 

 Britain, where, as already mentioned, it may be seen either singly or 

 in flocks ; and it is a special peculiarity of the species that in such 

 situations a number of its nests may often be found within a very 

 limited area. During the breeding-season, when these birds will not 

 unfrcquently perch on a bare tree or post, the cock is in the habit of 

 taking flights in the air, where he gives vent to his characteristic notes. 

 The hollow in a tussock of rank grass, which may or may not be 

 sparsely lined with grass or moss, serves for the resting-place of the 

 four relatively large eggs, which are laid from April to June, according 

 to the latitude of the breeding-place. Redshanks rarely breed far 

 inland; but nests were recorded from Warwickshire in 1 906 and 

 1907. When leaving her nest the hen often bends down the surround- 

 ing grass so as to hide the eggs. As a rule, the ground-colour 

 of the eggs themselves ranges from cream to pale or ochery buff, 

 upon which are spots and blotches of chocolate-brown, frequently 

 aggregated into a kind of cap at the larger end, with underlying 

 markings of pale purple. In a clutch taken in Norfolk, and now in 

 the British Museum, the colour is, however, pale blue, finely speckled 

 with reddish chestnut. A white redshank is on record. The length 

 of the bird is i i inches, and its weight about 6 oz. 



