Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vertebrate > bird > Bird |
| Red List Status: | Near Threatened (Non-breeding) / Vulnerable (Breeding) [NT(nbr) VU(br)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Tringa totanus |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | Stanbury et al., 2021 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Eng BBS Trend (25 yr -45%, 10 yr non-signif -22%). Eng WeBS trends (25 yr -21%, 10 yr -2%) |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Trial solutions across multiple habitats to reverse population decline |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Creation and management of large wetlands would create opportunities for breeding birds if they include areas free from disturbance. Creation and management of large wetlands/saltmarshes particularly around the coast will benefit non breeding birds. amended |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 6. Recovery solutions trialled |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Structured - sufficient |
| Species Comments: |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Trial management of potential management interventions for Redshank on salt marshes, including grazing management and mitigating recreational disturbance.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: Habitat management
Duration: 6-10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 20 sites
High priority sites: Humber, N Norfolk, Wash, Ribble, Solway, Thames, NW Saltmarshes
Comments:
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Continue to deliver habitat, predation and grazing management for Redshank on lowland wet grassland, informed by results of the 2021/22 Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows (BWWM) survey. Consider and as appropriate implement the recommendations of the SPA Reviews for this species. This should include both outstanding actions from the 2001 SPA Review and additional recommendations of the 2016 SPA Review. Up to date evidence is also required.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: Habitat management
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 20 sites
High priority sites: Thames Marshes, Fens Broads, N Norfolk,
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Secure suitable lowland habitat (behind the sea wall) to accommodate saltmarsh nesting birds at risk of loss due to sea-level rise and/or inundation due to spring flooding .
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Pressure Mitigation
Duration: Unknown
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 50 sites
High priority sites:
Comments:
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.