Common Greenshank

Afrikaans name: Groenpootruiter

Common Greenshank

Photo © Steven Herbert

Tringa nebularia

After breeding in the northern hemisphere during their summer the Common Greenshank flies south to places such as sub-Saharan Africa and Australia during the southern hemisphere summer. It is interesting that ornithologists have traced individual birds, by ringing them, and most of the South African population comes from Russia.

These birds are part of the group of birds known as "wading birds" as they spend most of their time in shallow water looking for food. Any area that has mud or standing water may well attract them.

The Common Greenshank catches virtually all of its food in water and mud where they catch fish, crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates.

As mentioned above they are a non-breeding visitor to South Africa.

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References and further reading

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 149

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 149

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 44

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 37

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 94

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 96

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 31

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 88

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 130

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 108

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 108

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 108

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 180

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 189

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 243

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 239

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 178

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 186

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Year Published: 1986 - Page: 325

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 145

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 19

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 236

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 88

List of South African Birds