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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 180

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds