Spotted Redshank – A Rare View of a Very Unusual Bird

March 18, 2025 0 By Chris and Chris

The Redshank is the most common of the medium sized waders in the UK. Its close relative, the Spotted Redshank, is one of the rarest.

Spotted Redshanks nest in areas of short vegetation and stony ground of northern Scandanavia, Russia, and China. The birds we see in the UK nest mainly in Scandanavia, and migrate to the Mediterranean regions and the North African coast for the winter. ¹

The UK is an important migration route for them, and every year 200 to 300 stay to over winter here.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve often hosts one or two of these, and this year (2024/5) is no exception. The photos in this blog were taken there.

Identification – Distinction between Redshank and Spotted Redshank

The breeding plumage of the Spotted Redshank is a superb and unmistakable glossy black with white spots. Females are slightly more speckled than the males. However, in the UK we rarely see them dressed in this finery.

In structure, the Spotted Redshank is similar to the Redshank, although it is a taller and more elegant bird, with longer legs and beak. The beak also has a slight downturn.

In winter plumage the chest of the Spotted Redshank is pale, where as the face, throat and chest of the Redshank is grey brown. The superciliam (the stripe over the eye) of the Spotted Redshank is pale. Both have red on the lower part of the beak, but in the Redshank this is often less distinct.

Spotted Redshanks – as seen in the UK

Like the Redshank, the Spotted Redshank tends to be a solitary bird, although they will often migrate in small groups. But Graham Appleton recalls that the Wash Wader Ringing Group once caught 60 Spotted Redshank along with 350 or more other waders in their “cannon net”. It was in July of 1975 that such a remarkable event took place.²

In Graham Appleton’s words: “It’s usually a good day if you see a Spotted Redshank in Britain or Ireland. How about a flock of 60?”

Other records include a flock of 187 at Snetisham in September 1977 and 210 on the Wash in September 1987. ³

Sadly, of course, these records are 30 or more years old. Now we are seeing migrating groups in much smaller numbers.

The birds begin their spring migration at the end of April, and April into May is the best time to be watching for them here. Their return south covers a longer period, and birds can be seen anytime between June and September, with the majority passing through towards the end of this period.

Spotted Redshank Showing Breeding Plumage

The prize for birdwatchers in the UK of course is to see a Spotted Redshank in breeding plumage. It is unique and splendid garb.

Graham Appleton reports that some of 60 netted in Norfolk were still showing black plumage.

James Duncan, from Sussex Wildlife Trust, reported that:

“… one arrived last year (at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve) and stayed during transition to breeding plumage. This was unusual though, as most will already be in their breeding locations by moulting time, … there’s a greater chance of seeing breeding plumage post-breeding, rather than before.” ⁴

They begin their moult into winter plumage during the early stages of their autumn migration, although males and females behave very differently in this respect.

Social Behaviour and Breeding

Redshanks’ breeding behaviour is typical of many bird species – they usually pair for life, and both birds cooperate rearing the young.

However the Spotted Redshank is extremely unusual in that after mating and laying, the female soon departs the nest and the male undertakes most of the brooding and all of the rearing duties.

Females occasionally find another mate, but usually leave the breeding area and flock with other females to begin their migration south in early June. The females therefore make up the first wave of migrating birds. They will commense their moult during this time, normally arriving at their wintering ground in winter plumage.

The males and juveniles will leave the breeding ground during the second half of July and August, and will arrive in their African winter location anytime between August and October.

Spotted Redshanks – Why Such Interesting Birds?

Globally, male only care of eggs and young occurs in only about 1% of bird species, setting the Spotted Redshank in a rather exclusive position. This is the same percentage of bird species that are parasitic, like the European cuckoo.

In contrast, female only care is about 8% of bird species globally. The European Wren provides a good example of this behaviour.

These unusual examples of parental care obviously develop for good reason, and have served some of the UK’s most successful species well. The cooperative breeding behaviour of Longtailed Tits for example is fascinating, while the humble Dunnock provides us with some of the most complicated mating and rearing behaviour of any bird, but all to good effect.

Our hope of course is that these unusual breeding patterns will enable bird species such as the Spotted Redshank to surive during these times of rapid change.

The Dunnock: https://woodcockwood.com/the-dunnock-the-most-extraordinary-of-ordinary-birds/

The Longtailed Tit: https://woodcockwood.com/nesting-and-the-long-tailed-tit/

The Wren: https://woodcockwood.com/the-fascinating-life-of-wrens-troglodytes-troglodytes/