Literature review to assess bird species connectivity to Special ...

2.14 Greenshank
2.14.1 Foraging
Core foraging range
Foraging is reported to be within 1.5km of the nest, with birds occasionally foraging
up to between 2.5km (Nethersole-Thompson & Nethersole-Thompson, 1979) and
3.0km (Cramp & Simmons, 1983) from the nest.
2.14.2 Nesting
No information pertinent to connectivity was found.
2.14.3 Display flights
Display flight range
Display flights occur most frequently during the early part of the breeding season, up
to pair-formation. The displays involve the male flying to a height of 60m,
occasionally up to 300m, before dropping down (Cramp & Simmons, 1983). Most
display activity occurs between 03:00h and 07:00h.
2.14.4 Competitive behaviour
Competitor interaction behaviour
A male on territory will approach, usually by flight, any conspecific bird in or near the
mating area (Cramp & Simmons, 1983). If the other bird remains, the male will
perform a display on the ground, and the event can culminate in a ‘leap-frogging’
flight where each bird jumps alternately at one another. Chasing can also occur, for
up to 800m.
2.14.5 Habitat use
Chick habitat choice
Greenshanks breed in sub-montane, boggy habitat, mostly between 210m and 550m
a.s.l., but also down to sea-level in the north of Scotland (Ratcliffe, 1979; Cramp &
Simmons, 1983).
2.14.6 Winter behaviour
Winter movements
Outside the breeding season, Scottish greenshanks are believed to winter mainly in
the Mediterranean or Africa, with some remaining in the British Isles (Thompson,
2002). Numbers wintering in Scotland, mainly in coastal areas, have ranged
between 50 and 100 in the last 10 years (Thompson, P.S. 2007).
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