Common greenshank non breeding plummage, Jaipur

The largest species in the genus Tringa, the common greenshank is an elegant wading bird with a long, stout, slightly upturned bill and long, yellowish- to greyish-green legs. It has a relatively long neck, and the bill is grey with a darker tip. Outside of the breeding season, the common greenshank is largely grey above and white below, with darker wings, grey streaks on the head and neck, and a whitish tail. Breeding adults have heavy dark streaking and spotting on the upperparts, head, neck and upper breast. At all times of year, this species has a white rump which extends into a distinctive white wedge up the back, visible in flight. The male and female common greenshank are similar in appearance, but females average slightly larger. Juveniles resemble the non-breeding adults, but have browner upperparts with buff edges to the feathers, and more streaking on the neck and breast.

The common greenshank forages by both day and night, feeding on a variety of insects and their larvae, but also taking crustaceans, molluscs, worms, amphibians and small fish. This species has even been recorded eating rodents and lizards. It usually feeds by pecking or probing as it walks through shallow water, or by sweeping the bill sideways through the water. An active feeder, it sometimes runs with erratic changes of direction as it searches for or pursues prey. Common greenshanks may feed alone, in small flocks, or in larger flocks numbering into the hundred. The common greenshank breeds across Europe and Asia, from northern Scotland and Scandinavia, east through central Asia and Russia, to eastern Siberia. A migratory species, it moves south to spend the winter in western Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa, through the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula to Southeast Asia, and as far south as Australia. Some non-breeding individuals may remain in the wintering grounds year-round.It is classified as least concern by IUCN.