Tringa guttifer (Nordmann, 1835)

Nordmann's greenshank, with the scientific name Tringa guttifer (Nordmann, 1835), is a medium-sized sandpiper.

Physical Measurements

It measures 29–32 cm (11–13 in) in length, has a slightly upturned bicoloured bill, and relatively short yellow legs.

Breeding Plumage

Breeding adults have bold markings: whitish spots and spangling on a black upperside, heavily streaked head and upper neck, broad blackish crescentic spots on the lower neck and breast, and darker lores.

Breeding Range

Nordmann's greenshank breeds in eastern Russia, along the south-western and northern coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk and on Sakhalin Island.

Non-Breeding Range Status

Its non-breeding range is not fully understood.

Confirmed Passage and Winter Sites

Significant numbers have been recorded in South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan during passage, and in Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia during winter.

Additional Range Records

It has also been recorded on passage or in winter in Japan, North Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, which may prove to be an important part of its wintering range, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Unconfirmed Records

There are unconfirmed records from Nepal and Guam, a US territory.

Global Population Estimate

Its total population is estimated to be 500–1,000 individuals.

Australian Occurrences

It has been recorded several times on 80-mile beach in Western Australia; most recently, an individual was discovered on Cairns Esplanade in Queensland, Australia.

Cairns Esplanade Wintering Individual

This individual over-wintered at the site from December 2020 to May 2021.

Returning Cairns Individual

What is thought to be the same bird returned to Cairns Esplanade in mid-December 2021, and has now returned for four straight seasons, being regularly seen in 2022 and 2023.