TOTANIIS.
Waders; outer and middle toes united by web at base (inner and middle also in Redshank); bill hard, long, and straight (occasionally slightly bent upwards); wing long and pointed; frequent sea-coasts on passage and in winter; breed inland, nest (with few exceptions) on ground, usually near water ; eggs 4, variable, greenish, ochreous huff or dull stone grey blotched with pale purplish grey and brown of various shades.
Totanus fuscus (L.). DUSKY REDSHANK. Fr. Chevalier bran ; Ger. Dunkler Wasserlaufer ; /ha/. Gambetta fosca ; Svartsnappa.
9 summer. Sooty black, spotted and barred white on upper parts, eyelids white, lower back and rump white, secondaries white, barred grey ; beneath more or less barred and mottled white, tail and tail coverts (above and below) barred white, under wing coverts and axillaries white. In winter : above grey brown, wing with white margins ; beneath white, greyish on foreneck. Bill black, reddish at base below. Legs and feet dark purple red (summer), more orange red (winter), Wing 152-167. Tarsus 55-6o. Bill 54-6o. Young : above darker than winter adult, underparts grey brown barred and mottled white.
Breeds.—\. Europe, chiefly above Arctic Circle, but in Russia south to about Moscow ; also across N. Asia. Occurs on passage over Europe, but rare in Britain. Winters in S. Europe and Asia, and Africa south to Cape.
Totanus totanus totanus (L.). REDSHANK. Fr. Chevalier Garnbette ; Ger. Rotschenkel ; Rat. I'ettegola ; Swear. Rodbent snappa.
9 summer. Above brown with dark shaft streaks and some bars ; lower back and rump white, secondaries white ; tail white barred brown ; beneath, white spotted and streaked brown, axillaries white. In winter above uniform brown ; beneath greyer and streaks less pronounced. Bill (summer) black, reddish at base, (winter) black brown, base orange yellow. Legs and feet (summer) orange red, (winter) orange yellow. Wing 150-16o.
Tarsus 44-48. Bill 39-43. usually the larger.
Breeds.—British Isles, and Continental Europe south from N. Norway ; Morocco ; also in W. Asia. Winters on Norwegian Coasts (few), British Coasts (many), but majority in south of Europe and through Africa to Cape Colony.
T. totanus robustus Schioler.
Larger than "totanus," with stronger but not longer bill and legs and longer wing ; in spring fore part of breast and sides very strongly spotted. Wing j 16o-169. Bill 39-44. Breeds.—Iceland and probably Faroes. Some winter there, but majority migrate and winter in British Isles and reach even to Morocco.
Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin). GREATER YELLOW SHANK.
e In size and appearance resemble "T. nebularius" but legs longer and yellow and bill very slightly bent upwards. Wing 188-202. Tarsus 58-65. Bill 55-57.
An American species ; has occurred very rarely in England.
Totanus flavipes (Gmelin). n). YELLOWSHANK.
6 Resemble "T. glareola" but larger, with brown lower back ; upper tail coverts white with some dark bars, axillaries white with faint brownish bars. Legs and feet yellow. Wing 156-170. Tarsus 48-58. Bill 35-43.
Also an American species ; has occurred six times in British Isles.
Totanus stagnatilis Bechstein. MARSH SANDPIPER. Ger. Teichwasserldufer ; Ital. Albastrello.
? summer. Above buff brown, with diagonal dark bars and streaks ; lower back and rump white, upper tail coverts mostly white ; tail feathers white, central pair barred black, remainder mottled brown on outer edge; secondaries grey brown ; beneath white, with black spots on throat, chest and flanks ; under wing coverts and axillaries white. Bill black. Legs and feet yellowish green. In winter, above light brown with narrow dark shaft streaks ; below white, slightly spotted black on foreneck. Wing 135-147. Tarsus 33-38. Bill long and thin, ? generally the larger.
Brectis.—S.E. Europe, Hungary, Rumania and S. Russia up to Perm ; and in Siberia. Migrates ; winters Africa, S. Asia and Australia. Accidental in \V. Europe, including British Isles.
Totanus nebularius (Gunnerus). GREENSIIANK. Fr. Chevalier gris ; Gcr. Grtinschenkel ; Dal. Pantana ; Swed. Gluttsnappa.
? summer. Grey brown, head and neck streaked dark brown, many feathers of back and scapulars all or partly black ; rump and shorter upper tail coverts white, longer tail coverts and tail white with brown bars ; beneath white, throat and breast spotted black, flanks barred. In winter, no black feathers on upper parts or spots on chest. Bill slightly recurved, black, bluish grey at base. Legs and feet greenish. Wing 180-190. Tarsus 54-66. Bill 33-57.
Breeds.—N. Europe, from Highlands of Scotland to Norway, Sweden, and Russia as far south as Ufa, and across N. Asia.
Occurs on passage throughout Europe and Asia. Winters south in Africa to Cape Colony, and in the east as far as Australia and New Zealand ; a few remain in Europe, including Britain.
Totanus ochropus (L.). GREEN SANDPIPER. Fr. Cheva lier cul-blanc ; Ger. Waldwasserlaufer ; IGnI. Culbianco ; Swed. SkoggsWippa.
? summer. Above brown, tinged oily green, streaked on head and upper neck and spotted on back and wings with white ; shaft of 1st primary brown ; lower rump, upper tail coverts and tail white, middle tail feathers with broad brown bars ; under parts white, throat and upper breast streaked dark brown, axil laries dark brown barred diagonally white. Bill dark olive green, tipped black. Legs and feet bluish olive green. In winter, spots on upper parts are faint or absent. Wing 137-147. ? usually the larger. Tarsus 33-37. Bill 33-36.
Prceds.—N. Europe and Asia, north of a line from Denmark through Germany, Bohemia, Galicia, across Russia to Trans caspia and Turkestan ; not in Britain. Winters in Britain (few), Mediterranean Countries, Africa and S. Asia. This bird lays its eggs in old nests of Thrushes, Pigeons, etc., in trees in swampy places.
Totanus solitarius solitarius (Wilson). SOLITARY SANDPIPER.
Resemble "T. ochropus" and have the shaft of 1st primary brown, but central upper tail coverts and central tail feathers are like the upper parts, the others being broadly barred brown and white, and white bars on axillaries are broader. Wing 128-134. Tarsus 31-32. Bill 30-31. Nesting habits are like those of "ochropus." An American species, rare in Europe ; six have been recorded, all in Britain.
Totanus glareola (L.). WOOD SANDPIPER. Ger. Bruch wasserlaufer ; Pa/. Piro-piro boschereccio ; Swed. Gronbena.
Q summer. Resemble "T. ochropus," but upper tail coverts show a few brown marks or spots and white on rump is much narrower ; tail white with narrow brown bars ; lower back is like mantle, axillaries and under wing coverts white with few pale brown bars ; shaft of 1st primary white. In winter, no white spots on upper parts, throat grey brown without spots. Bill black, greyish at base below. Legs and feet pale olive green. Wing 119-127, ? 121-130. Tarsus 34-39. Bill 25-3o.
Breeds.—Europe north of a line from N. France across to Urals, and across N. Asia ; once or twice in Britain. Occurs throughout S. Europe on passage ; occasional British Isles ; winters in Africa, S. Asia, Australia. Nests usually on ground, but recorded by Popham as nesting in trees like "ochropus." Totanus incanus brevipes Vieillot.
summer. Above uniform brownish grey ; beneath white with wavy bars of grey on sides of head, neck, chest and flanks. In winter, chin and abdomen are white, and breast is grey without bars. Bill black, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet ochre yellow. Wing 157-168. Tarsus 32-35. Bill 36-4o (H.).
An Asiatic form of "T. i. incanus," which breeds in Alaska. Of very rare occurrence in Europe, twice obtained in England.
Totanus hypOleUCUS (L.). COMNION SANDPIPER. Fr. Chevalier guignette ; Ger. Flussuferliitifer ; 11n1. Piro-piro piccolo. Szoed Drillsniippa.
9 summer. Above bronzy olive brown, with dark shaft streaks and bars, no white on rump or upper tail coverts ; inner secondaries mostly white, primaries with a patch of white on inner web, greater and median wing coverts with white tips ; beneath white, sides of breast brown with darker streaks, axillaries white ; tail rounded. In winter dark streaks arc absent above, and also marks on sides of breast. Bill dark brown, lighter at base below. Legs and feet yellowish brown. Wing 102-115. Tarsus 23-26. Bill 22-27.
Brceds.—British Isles, Europe south to N. Spain and Portugal and N. Italy, probably N. Africa (Morocco to Tunis) ; also N. Asia. Winters throughout Africa, and S. Asia to Australia. Found by Van Someren nesting in Uganda.
Totanus macularius (L.). SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
9 Resemble "hypoleucus " but inner secondaries brown with white bases and tips ; in summer underparts have large brown spots, which are absent in winter, when chest is ashy grey. Wing 98-1 to. Tarsus 24-26. Bill 22-25.
A North American species ; occasional in Europe. Casual in British Isles.