Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus - Zwarte Ruiter / Zwin - Knokke - Belgium / Winter - 2025

The Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) is an elegant medium-sized wader, renowned for its striking black breeding plumage, which plays a key role in mating displays and camouflage. It breeds in northern Eurasia, primarily in boggy tundra and forested wetland regions across Scandinavia and Siberia.
During migration, Spotted Redshanks undertake remarkable long-distance journeys. They traverse Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, often following coastlines, rivers, and wetlands where they rest and refuel.
In winter, these resilient birds disperse to milder climates, ranging across southern Europe, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Preferring estuaries, mudflats, and shallow wetlands, they feed on small invertebrates and aquatic organisms. This migratory species exemplifies remarkable adaptability to diverse habitats throughout its annual cycle.