Birds of Britain 



barred and spotted with blackish, the under parts white, 

 profusely streaked on the neck and sides of the breast with 

 ash brown, the flanks being barred with the same colour. 

 Length 11 in.; bill 1'8 ; wing 6'25 in. 



The female resembles the male, and the young may be 

 recognised by the feathers of the mantle having buff spots 

 and the legs being yellow. 



The white secondaries are very conspicuous in flight. 



THE SPOTTED REDSHANK 



Totanus fuscus (Linnaeus) 



The Spotted Eedshank is a rare migrant on both the 

 spring and autumn migrations. In Scotland, Ireland, and 

 the west of England it is almost unknown, but in the 

 eastern counties a few probably occur every year on 

 passage, but their stay is of such short duration that they 

 are often unnoticed. 



It breeds in the north of Scandinavia and Russia, laying 

 its eggs in very dry situations at a considerable distance 

 from its marshy feeding-ground. The young are, however, 

 taken to the marsh as soon as they are hatched. 



In summer the male has the upper parts black mottled 

 with white, except the rump, and upper tail coverts, which 

 are white, barred with black. Under parts black. Bill 

 black, red at base of lower mandible ; legs and feet deep 

 red. The female at this season often has a white chin. 

 In autumn the upper parts and neck are ashy brown 



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