Tringa erythropus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CHARADRIIFORMES	SCOLOPACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Tringa erythropus

Species Authority:

(Pallas, 1764)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Spotted Redshank
French	–	Chevalier arlequin

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S.

Justification:
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

History:

2008	–	Least Concern
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belgium; Benin; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Canada; Chad; China; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; Finland; France; Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Hong Kong; Hungary; India; Indonesia; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malaysia; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Myanmar; Nepal; Netherlands; Niger; Nigeria; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Somalia; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Taiwan, Province of China; Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uzbekistan; Viet Nam; Yemen Vagrant: Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; Barbados; Botswana; Cambodia; Cape Verde; Djibouti; Dominica; Guadeloupe; Lebanon; Liberia; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malawi; Maldives; Martinique; Montserrat; Mozambique; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; South Africa; Timor-Leste; Togo; Trinidad and Tobago; Zambia; Zimbabwe Present - origin uncertain: Guam
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Countries:

Native:

Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belgium; Benin; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Canada; Chad; China; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; Finland; France; Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Hong Kong; Hungary; India; Indonesia; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malaysia; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Myanmar; Nepal; Netherlands; Niger; Nigeria; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Somalia; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Taiwan, Province of China; Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uzbekistan; Viet Nam; Yemen

Vagrant:

Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; Barbados; Botswana; Cambodia; Cape Verde; Djibouti; Dominica; Guadeloupe; Lebanon; Liberia; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malawi; Maldives; Martinique; Montserrat; Mozambique; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; South Africa; Timor-Leste; Togo; Trinidad and Tobago; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Present - origin uncertain:

Guam

Range Map:

Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour This species is a full migrant^{1, 9, 10}, breeding in the subarctic and arctic zone of Fennoscandia and Siberia¹⁰. On passage to its wintering grounds the majority of the species travels overland on a broad front, although there is also an important route down the west coast of Europe^{1, 10}. Females begin to moving south in early-June, the males following during July, and juveniles migrating from August to September¹. The movements of this species are characterised by long flights between staging areas (such as the Wadden Sea, Dutch delta region, southern Hungary, south-east Greece, central Turkey, the Black and Caspian Seas, central Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal, Chang Lake (Ussuriland), central Yakutia, Sakhalin, Japan and Korea)¹, those birds wintering in Sahel and northern savanna zones (e.g. Mali, Nigeria and Chad¹⁰) also cross the Sahara¹. Arrival in Africa begins in August and peaks in October⁹, the species being present throughout the tropics mainly between October and April¹, and returning to arctic breeding grounds between late-April and mid-May¹. Few birds remain in the tropics during the breeding season, but non-breeders may spend the summer just south of the breeding grounds¹. The species breeds in dispersed pairs and is often seen singly, although it is also common in parties of up to 20 and exceptionally over 100^{1, 2}. Adults typically moult in large flocks⁹ in staging areas in their arctic breeding range before moving to wintering grounds¹. This species is both a diurnal and nocturnal feeder¹. Habitat Breeding During the breeding season this species inhabits lowland and upland (but not montane) regions, in wooded and open tundra⁵, marshes, swampy pine or birch forest near the arctic tree-line, and also more open areas such as heathland and shrub tundra^{1, 3}. Non-breeding During migration and on its wintering grounds⁴ this species frequents a variety of freshwater and brackish wetlands such as sewage farms, irrigated rice fields, brackish lagoons, salt-marshes, salt-pans, sheltered muddy coastal shores¹ and mudflats³, marshes and marshy lake edges^{2, 3}, small reservoirs, pools and flooded grasslands². Diet The species is carnivorous, its diet consisting chiefly of aquatic insects and their larvae (especially swimming beetles and hemipterans), terrestrial flying insects (such as craneflies), small crustaceans, molluscs, polycheate worms, and small fish and amphibians up to 6-7 cm long^{1, 3}. Breeding site The nest of this species is a shallow depression⁵ positioned in grass tussocks¹, on sphagnum moss⁴, or in fairly dry areas of forestamongst low vegetation such as dwarf willows³. Nest sites are often selected near dead trees or other suitable look-out perches³. Management information Intensive grazing of grassland (> 1 cow per hectare) was found to attract a higher abundance of this species in Hungary¹¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour This species is a full migrant^{1, 9, 10}, breeding in the subarctic and arctic zone of Fennoscandia and Siberia¹⁰. On passage to its wintering grounds the majority of the species travels overland on a broad front, although there is also an important route down the west coast of Europe^{1, 10}. Females begin to moving south in early-June, the males following during July, and juveniles migrating from August to September¹. The movements of this species are characterised by long flights between staging areas (such as the Wadden Sea, Dutch delta region, southern Hungary, south-east Greece, central Turkey, the Black and Caspian Seas, central Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal, Chang Lake (Ussuriland), central Yakutia, Sakhalin, Japan and Korea)¹, those birds wintering in Sahel and northern savanna zones (e.g. Mali, Nigeria and Chad¹⁰) also cross the Sahara¹. Arrival in Africa begins in August and peaks in October⁹, the species being present throughout the tropics mainly between October and April¹, and returning to arctic breeding grounds between late-April and mid-May¹. Few birds remain in the tropics during the breeding season, but non-breeders may spend the summer just south of the breeding grounds¹. The species breeds in dispersed pairs and is often seen singly, although it is also common in parties of up to 20 and exceptionally over 100^{1, 2}. Adults typically moult in large flocks⁹ in staging areas in their arctic breeding range before moving to wintering grounds¹. This species is both a diurnal and nocturnal feeder¹. Habitat Breeding During the breeding season this species inhabits lowland and upland (but not montane) regions, in wooded and open tundra⁵, marshes, swampy pine or birch forest near the arctic tree-line, and also more open areas such as heathland and shrub tundra^{1, 3}. Non-breeding During migration and on its wintering grounds⁴ this species frequents a variety of freshwater and brackish wetlands such as sewage farms, irrigated rice fields, brackish lagoons, salt-marshes, salt-pans, sheltered muddy coastal shores¹ and mudflats³, marshes and marshy lake edges^{2, 3}, small reservoirs, pools and flooded grasslands². Diet The species is carnivorous, its diet consisting chiefly of aquatic insects and their larvae (especially swimming beetles and hemipterans), terrestrial flying insects (such as craneflies), small crustaceans, molluscs, polycheate worms, and small fish and amphibians up to 6-7 cm long^{1, 3}. Breeding site The nest of this species is a shallow depression⁵ positioned in grass tussocks¹, on sphagnum moss⁴, or in fairly dry areas of forestamongst low vegetation such as dwarf willows³. Nest sites are often selected near dead trees or other suitable look-out perches³. Management information Intensive grazing of grassland (> 1 cow per hectare) was found to attract a higher abundance of this species in Hungary¹¹.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened by habitat loss in its wintering range and on migration: wetland sites in Ghana are being degraded through coastal erosion and developments involving drainage and land reclamation⁶; and in China and South Korea important migrational staging areas around the coast of the Yellow Sea are being lost through land reclamation and degraded as a result of declining river flows (from water abstraction), increased pollution, unsustainable harvesting of benthic fauna and a reduction in the amount of sediment being carried into the area by the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers^{7, 8, 12}.

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened by habitat loss in its wintering range and on migration: wetland sites in Ghana are being degraded through coastal erosion and developments involving drainage and land reclamation⁶; and in China and South Korea important migrational staging areas around the coast of the Yellow Sea are being lost through land reclamation and degraded as a result of declining river flows (from water abstraction), increased pollution, unsustainable harvesting of benthic fauna and a reduction in the amount of sediment being carried into the area by the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers^{7, 8, 12}.

Bibliography [top]

	Baldi, A.; Batary, B.; Erdos, S. 2005. Effects of grazing intensity on bird assemblages and populations of Hungarian grasslands. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 108: 251-263. Barter, M. 2002. Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea. Wetlands International, Canberra, Australia. Barter, M. A. 2006. The Yellow Sea - a vitally important staging region for migratory shorebirds. In: Boere, G.; Galbraith, C., Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 663-667. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK. del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Flint, V. E.; Boehme, R. L.; Kostin, Y. V.; Kuznetsov, A. A. 1984. A field guide to birds of the USSR. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Hayman, P.; Marchant, J.; Prater, A. J. 1986. Shorebirds. Croom Helm, London. Johnsgard, P. A. 1981. The plovers, sandpipers and snipes of the world. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, U.S.A. and London. Kelin, C.; Qiang, X. 2006. Conserving migratory shorebirds in the Yellow Sea region. In: Boere, G.; Galbraith, C., Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 319. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, UK. Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y. 1991. Seasonal changes in the importance of coastal wetlands in Ghana for wading birds. Biological Conservation 57: 139-158. Smit, C. J.; Piersma, T. 1989. Numbers, midwinter distribution, and migration of wader populations using the East Atlantic flyway. In: Boyd, H.; Pirot, J.-Y. (ed.), Flyways and reserve networks for waterbirds, pp. 24-63. International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge. Snow, D. W.; Perrins, C. M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Urban, E. K.; Fry, C. H.; Keith, S. 1986. The birds of Africa vol. II. Academic Press, London.

Baldi, A.; Batary, B.; Erdos, S. 2005. Effects of grazing intensity on bird assemblages and populations of Hungarian grasslands. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 108: 251-263.

Barter, M. 2002. Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea. Wetlands International, Canberra, Australia.

Barter, M. A. 2006. The Yellow Sea - a vitally important staging region for migratory shorebirds. In: Boere, G.; Galbraith, C., Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 663-667. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK.

del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Flint, V. E.; Boehme, R. L.; Kostin, Y. V.; Kuznetsov, A. A. 1984. A field guide to birds of the USSR. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Hayman, P.; Marchant, J.; Prater, A. J. 1986. Shorebirds. Croom Helm, London.

Johnsgard, P. A. 1981. The plovers, sandpipers and snipes of the world. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, U.S.A. and London.

Kelin, C.; Qiang, X. 2006. Conserving migratory shorebirds in the Yellow Sea region. In: Boere, G.; Galbraith, C., Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 319. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, UK.

Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y. 1991. Seasonal changes in the importance of coastal wetlands in Ghana for wading birds. Biological Conservation 57: 139-158.

Smit, C. J.; Piersma, T. 1989. Numbers, midwinter distribution, and migration of wader populations using the East Atlantic flyway. In: Boyd, H.; Pirot, J.-Y. (ed.), Flyways and reserve networks for waterbirds, pp. 24-63. International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge.

Snow, D. W.; Perrins, C. M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Urban, E. K.; Fry, C. H.; Keith, S. 1986. The birds of Africa vol. II. Academic Press, London.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Tringa erythropus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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