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| Shanks | ||||||||||
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 Common Redshank larger image | ||||||||||
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| † see also: wader |
The shanks are a group of wading bird species, characterised by a medium length bill and long, often brightly coloured legs. They chase visible prey, rather than probing like most waders.
These species are more associated with temperate regions for breeding than the rest of this largely arctic family. They are more often found in fresh water environments than many waders.
Unusually for waders, some of this group, notably Green Sandpiper, nest in trees, using the old nests of other birds, usually thrushes.
A few other species in other small genera are closely related to the shanks, including the two tattlers and the four other very distinctive species.
Species are:
