Greenshank
Introduction
This large, lanky wader is most often picked up in wetlands on autumn passage by its distinctive three-note call.
Reports to BirdTrack peak from mid-July to late-September, as individuals migrate south to their wintering grounds in the west of Africa. At this time of year, Greenshank can be found in both coastal and freshwater wetlands, but in the breeding season this is very much a bird of remote moorland, with breeding records confined to the Highlands and islands of Scotland.
Much is known about Greenshank breeding behaviour thanks to a classic study by Desmond Nethersole-Thompson, which was carried out in the Flow Country of northern Scotland. Territories usually include a large rock or dead tree as song-post.
Key Stats
Identification
ID Videos
This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.
Common shanks
Songs and Calls
Song:
Call:
Other:
Status and Trends
Conservation Status
Population Change
Greenshank breeds in the far north and west of Scotland where it is difficult to survey. The only national survey was made over 20 years ago and came up with a population estimate of 1,080 breeding pairs (Hancock et al. 1997). Hence the status and long-term trend is unclear. The breeding range in the 2008–11 Breeding Atlas was similar to that in 1968–72 with a very slight increase of 2% in the number of occupied squares (Balmer et al. 2013).
Distribution
Breeding Greenshanks are largely restricted to the bogs and moors of the northwest Highlands and Hebridean islands, with the highest densities in Sutherland, Wester Ross, Lewis, Harris and North Uist. Most wintering bird are associated with large estuary complexes throughout the coasts of Britain & Ireland. Densities are highest in the west, especially in Ireland and parts of western Scotland.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
2007/08–10/11
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.
2008–11
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.
European Distribution Map
Distribution Change
There have been minor breeding-range expansions, mostly on Shetland, Lewis, North Uist and in West Inverness. Losses are most evident in the eastern fringes of the range, particularly in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK
from 1981–84 to 2007–11
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.
from 1968–72 to 2008–11
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.
Seasonality
Greenshanks are recorded throughout the year, though most likely during autumn passage.
Weekly pattern of occurrence
The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.
Movement
Britain & Ireland movement
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.
- Winter (Nov-Feb)
- Spring (Mar-Apr)
- Summer (May-Jul)
- Autumn (Aug-Oct)
European movements
EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.
The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.
Biology
Productivity and Nesting
Nesting timing
Egg measurements
Clutch Size
Incubation
Survival and Longevity
Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.
Lifespan
Biometrics
Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).
Wing length
Body weight
Ring Size
Classification, names and codes
Classification and Codes
- Order: Charadriiformes
- Family: Scolopacidae
- Scientific name: Tringa nebularia
- Authority: Gunnerus, 1767
- BTO 2-letter code: GK
- BTO 5-letter code: GRESH
- Euring code number: 5480
Alternate species names
- Catalan: gamba verda
- Czech: vodouš šedý
- Danish: Hvidklire
- Dutch: Groenpootruiter
- Estonian: heletilder
- Finnish: valkoviklo
- French: Chevalier aboyeur
- Gaelic: Deoch-bhiugh
- German: Grünschenkel
- Hungarian: szürke cankó
- Icelandic: Lyngstelkur
- Irish: Laidhrín Glas
- Italian: Pantana
- Latvian: liela tilbite, tlitlis
- Lithuanian: žaliakojis tulikas
- Norwegian: Gluttsnipe
- Polish: kwokacz
- Portuguese: perna-verde
- Slovak: kalužiak sivý
- Slovenian: zelenonogi martinec
- Spanish: Archibebe claro
- Swedish: gluttsnäppa
- Welsh: Pibydd Coeswerdd
Research
Causes of Change and Solutions
Causes of change
The current trend is uncertain and hence drivers of change are also unclear. Some local declines may be linked to habitat degradation and afforestation (Hancock et al. 1997). However, Watson & Francis (2012) suggested a number of possible causes to explain local losses in Deeside including acidic deposition, overgrazing and trampling, disturbance, predation and reforestation. Further research is needed therefore to confirm whether or not any of these possible causes contribute towards population trends.
Publications (2)
Sensitivity mapping for breeding waders in Britain: towards producing zonal maps to guide wader conservation, forest expansion and ...
Author: O’Connell, P., Wilson, M., Wetherhill, A. & Calladine, J.
Published: 2021
Breeding waders in Britain are high profile species of conservation concern because of their declining populations and the international significance of some of their populations. Forest expansion is ...
09.12.21
BTO Research Reports BTO Research Reports
Consequences of population change for local abundance and site occupancy of wintering waterbirds
Author: Méndez, V., Gill, J.A., Alves, J.A., Burton, N.H.K. & Davies, R.G.
Published: 2017
Protected sites for birds are typically designated based on the site’s importance for the species that use it. For example, sites may be selected as Special Protection Areas (under the European Union ...
20.09.17
Papers
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