Nordmann's greenshank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nordmann's greenshank |
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Pseudototanus guttifer |
The Nordmann's greenshank (Tringa guttifer) is a special type of bird. It is also known as the spotted greenshank. This bird is a wader, which means it often walks in shallow water. It belongs to a large bird family called Scolopacidae, which includes many other waders.
What Does It Look Like?
The Nordmann's greenshank is a medium-sized bird. It is about 29 to 32 centimeters (11 to 13 inches) long. It has a beak that curves slightly upwards and is two different colors. Its legs are yellow and not very long.
When these birds are ready to have babies, they look very striking. Their backs are black with white spots. Their heads and necks have many streaks. They also have dark, crescent-shaped spots on their lower neck and chest. The area between their eyes and beak is darker.
Where Do They Live?
The Nordmann's greenshank lives in eastern Russia. They breed along the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk and on Sakhalin Island.
When it's not breeding season, these birds travel to warmer places. We don't know all the places they go, but many have been seen in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. They also spend winter in countries like Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Sometimes, they are seen in Japan, North Korea, India, and Myanmar. A few have even been spotted in Australia. One bird returned to Cairns, Australia, for four years in a row!
This bird is very rare. Scientists believe there are only about 500 to 1,000 of them left in the world.
How Scientists Group Them
Scientists group living things to understand how they are related. The Nordmann's greenshank is a unique bird. It used to be placed in its own special group called Pseudototanus.
Now, scientists think it's part of the Tringa group, which includes other birds like the Willet and the Marsh sandpiper. It shares some features with these birds, even though it's quite different.
Images for kids
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Common greenshank and Nordmann's greenshank, Cairns, Australia
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Nordmann's greenshank, Cairns, Australia
