Common Greenshank

30-34 cm. Large, pale, nervous wader with medium-long, slightly upturned bill, lead-grey at base, with black tip; grey-green legs. Non-breeding: very pale, with slight dark mark before and behind eye; wings and back pale grey-brown with fine white feather margins and 'toothings'; grey extends to sides of upperbreast; lower breast and underparts white. Breeding Plumage: head, neck and breast more heavily streaked grey-brown; upperparts with scattered, white-notched black feathers. Immature: like breeding, with buffish edges to feathers of upperparts. Singles, small parties, occasional flocks. Nervous: dashes about while feeding; bobs head, flushes with ringing alarm calls alerting other waders. Flight fast with clipped wingbeats: white wedge up back, and white rump, contrast with dark wings, no wingbar; tail white, barred grey-brown; underwing wholly white; toes protrude beyond tail.