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Common Greenshank
Tringa Nebularia

A large slightly heavy built wader, averaging 32 cm in size. It is generally grey-brown in colour, with pale underparts. The head and neck are more dark grey and the narrow white eye ring is also characteristic of this bird. Other pointers include the long greenish legs, the long grey-green bill with a a slightly upward curve to it. In flight the white wedge on the back and dark outer wing are characteristic. In breeding they are much browner and have much more bolder and heavier streaks. Greenshanks feed on invertebrates and occasionally fish. They often resemble a marsh sandpiper, however greenshanks have a heavier black bill which is a bit upturned and has a mostly grey or green base. The bartailed godwit also often confused with this more common bird, has a pink coloured base, larger size and shorter legs. Greenshank are mostly solitary or in pairs.

Juveniles are much darker in upper sections in comparison with adults. Where both adults, males and females are alike. Habitats include coastal or freshwater wetlands. These birds are very common particularly during winter and occur throughout the whole of south africa. Their call is a loudish 'chew-chew-chew.'

Please mind my stupidness, but it looks like it is related to the the sand pipers?

They are related. As the 'Trigna' suggests. Redshanks, yellowlegs etc are all part of the sandpiper family- the name just doesnt suggest it. Looking at the general structure of all these birds also points this out. They all belong to the broader family, family scolopacidae. Which includes the snipes, godwits, sandpipers, stints, curlews and phalaropes.

Thanks MWD!