Common Greenshank

Afrikaans name: Groenpootruiter

Common Greenshank

Photo © Steven Herbert

Tringa nebularia

After breeding in the northern hemisphere during their summer the Common Greenshank flies south to places such as sub-Saharan Africa and Australia during the southern hemisphere summer. It is interesting that ornithologists have traced individual birds, by ringing them, and most of the South African population comes from Russia.

These birds are part of the group of birds known as "wading birds" as they spend most of their time in shallow water looking for food. Any area that has mud or standing water may well attract them.

The Common Greenshank catches virtually all of its food in water and mud where they catch fish, crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates.

As mentioned above they are a non-breeding visitor to South Africa.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	263	Glottis nebularius
2nd	263	Tringa nebularia
3rd	263	Tringa nebularia
4th	263	Tringa nebularia
5th	270	Tringa nebularia
6th	270	Tringa nebularia
7th	241	Tringa nebularia

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	263	Greenshank
2nd	263	Greenshank
3rd	263	Greenshank
4th	263	Greenshank
5th	270	Greenshank
6th	270	Greenshank
7th	241	Common Greenshank

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	263	Groenpoot-ruiter
2nd	263	Groenpoot-ruiter
3rd	263	Groenpoot-ruiter
4th	263	Groenpoot-ruiter
5th	270	Groenpootruiter
6th	270	Groenpootruiter
7th	241	Groenpootruiter

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 88

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 44

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 236

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 108

Two Oceans - Author: Branch, Griffiths, Branch and Beckley - Published: 2010 - Page: 346

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 145

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 19

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 186

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 325

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 178

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 239

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 243

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 189

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 180

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 106

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 141

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 108

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 108

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 130

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 88

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 31

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 96

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 1 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 20

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 37

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 94

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 58

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 174

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 44

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 149

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 118

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 149

BirdLife South Africa

---

Top

List of South African Birds