Family CHARADRIIDiE. Genus Totanus. 



Subfamily Totanin^. 



COMMON REDSHANK. 



TOTANUS CALIDRIS— (^^■^'^^^'•f)- 



Geographical Distribution. — British. Generally though 

 locally distributed over the marshes of the British Islands during 

 summer, becoming most common in the eastern counties of 

 England, and throughout Scotland, where it extends to the 

 Orkneys and Shetlands as well as to the Outer Hebrides. Fairly 

 distributed in suitable localities in Ireland during summer. Be- 

 comes more numerous during autumn, as great numbers then 

 resort to the coasts on passage, and many remain to winter on 

 them. Foreign : Southern Palsearctic region ; Ethiopian and 

 Oriental regions in winter. Breeds throughout Europe, including 

 Iceland and the Faroes, with the exception that east of long. 40° 

 its range gradually becomes more southerly until in the Urals it 

 does not extend beyond lat. 58°. Resident throughout the basin 

 of the Mediterranean, breeding in North Africa ; but to South 

 Africa and the Canaries it is only known as a winter visitor. 

 Eastwards it breeds in Siberia as far north as lat. 55", and on the 

 mountain ranges of the south of that country and in Turkestan, 

 and possibly on the highlands of Persia. It passes through 

 Mongolia on migration to winter in India, Ceylon, Burma, China, 

 and the Malay Archipelago, and has been recorded from Japan. 



Allied Forms. — None of suflScient propinquity to require 

 notice. 



Time during which the Redshank may be taken.— 



August I St to March ist. 



Habits. — The Redshank is another of those wading birds 

 that changes its haunt according to season, frequenting littoral 

 districts during autumn and winter, but retiring more or less 

 inland to breed. Directly after the breeding season is over, the 



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