Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 187 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Tringa
- Species nebularia
Where it lives
Inland and coastal subarctic to temperate taiga wetlands of Palearctic: northern Europe to eastern Siberia: Scotland, Scandinavia and Baltic states east through temperate Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Amurland (southeastern Russia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 187 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Greenshank hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Greenshank is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL inland and coastal subarctic to temperate taiga wetlands of Palearctic: n Europe to e Siberia: Scotland, Scandinavia and Baltic states e through temperate Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Amurland (se Russia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 187 g, with a wing length of about 18.5 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Greenshank?
The Common Greenshank is a large bird that weighs around 187 g.
Where does the Common Greenshank live?
The Common Greenshank is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL inland and coastal subarctic to temperate taiga wetlands of Palearctic: n Europe to e Siberia: Scotland, Scandinavia and Baltic states e through temperate Russia to Chukotskiy Pen., Kamchatka and Amurland (se Russia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Greenshank belong to?
The Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Common Greenshank eat?
The Common Greenshank hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Greenshank migrate?
The Common Greenshank is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Greenshank endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Greenshank make?
1 real field recording of the Common Greenshank — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Greenshank's range?
The Common Greenshank has a mapped global range of about 12.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Scolopacidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
More in Shorebirds
Least Concern
Extinct
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Extinct
Endangered