redshank, common redshank
VU

redshank, common redshank

Tringa totanus

UnknownVUEUVUEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_redshank

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Common redshank populations have declined by over 50% across much of their European range since the 1970s, primarily due to agricultural intensification that has eliminated traditional wet meadow breeding habitats. Coastal development and sea-level rise threaten critical wintering areas, while drainage of wetlands for agriculture continues to reduce available nesting sites. Climate change is shifting the timing of peak invertebrate abundance, potentially creating mismatches with breeding cycles.

Threat summary

Habitat

Common redshanks breed in wet grasslands, saltmarshes, moorlands, and coastal meadows across temperate Eurasia, requiring areas with soft soil for probing and nearby water sources. During winter, they concentrate in estuaries, mudflats, and coastal lagoons where they feed on marine invertebrates in intertidal zones.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Scolopacidae

Slender-billed CurlewCR

Slender-billed Curlew

Numenius tenuirostris

Unknown
Eurasian CurlewVU

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Unknown
Imperial SnipeVU

Imperial Snipe

Gallinago imperialis

Unknown
EN

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is redshank, common redshank classified as Vulnerable?
redshank, common redshank is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Common redshank populations have declined by over 50% across much of their European range since the 1970s, primarily due to agricultural intensification that has eliminated traditional wet meadow breeding habitats. Coastal development and sea-level rise threaten critical wintering areas, while drainage of wetlands for agriculture continues to reduce available nesting sites. Climate change is shifting the timing of peak invertebrate abundance, potentially creating mismatches with breeding cycles.
Where does redshank, common redshank live?
redshank, common redshank occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to redshank, common redshank?
The main threats to redshank, common redshank are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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