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Red Knot

Calidris canutus ORDER: CHARADRIIFORMES FAMILY: SCOLOPACIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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The Red Knot is the largest of the "peeps" in North America, and one of the most colorful. It makes one of the longest yearly migrations of any bird, traveling 15,000 km (9,300 mi) from its Arctic breeding grounds to Tierra del Fuego in southern South America.

Read Cornell Lab of Ornithology's blog, Round Robin

Appearance

Shorebirds

Typical Voice

Adult Description

Large, bulky sandpiper.
Relatively short, straight bill tapering to tip.
Legs short and thick.
Head and breast reddish in breeding plumage, gray the rest of the year.

Female Description

In breeding plumage female has light-colored feathers amongst the belly feathers and less distinct eyeline. Sexes appear similar in winter. Female has slightly longer wings and bill.

Immature Description

Similar to adult winter plumage, but gray back feathers outlined in white and black, giving a scaly appearance.

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Field MarksHelp

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Red Knot
Juvenile
- Large shorebird with straight black bill
- White eyebrow
- Pale scaly pattern on gray back
- Gray barring on flanks, white belly
- © Kevin T. Karlson
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Red Knot
Adult breeding
- Rich, salmon-orange color on face and underside
- Gray back with some orange and black speckling
- Large-bodied with straight, black bill
- © Jason Crotty, Pillar Point, California, May 2010
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Red Knot
Breeding and nonbreeding adults
- Adult molting into breeding plumage develops orange-red on face and underside
- Nonbreeding adult white below with gray back and white eyebrow
- Long wings with dark speckling at "wing-pit"
- Straight black bills
- © birdsandwater, Masonboro Island, North Carolina, May 2009
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Red Knot
Adult breeding
- Heavy-bodied appearance
- Rich salmon color on face and underside
- Black and orange speckling on gray back
- Black bill and legs
- © Christopher L. Wood, Cape May County, New Jersey
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Red Knot
Adult nonbreeding
- Gray back and white belly
- Dark barring on flanks
- White eyebrow
- Straight black bill
- © Christopher L. Wood, Cape May County, New Jersey
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Red Knot
Adult nonbreeding
- Gray back and white belly
- Dark barring on flanks
- Black bill and legs
- Heavy-bodied, stout appearance
- © Christopher L. Wood, Cape May County, New Jersey
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Red Knot
Breeding adults
- Long wings
- Deep, red-orange on face and underside
- Thin white stripe through middle of wing
- Pale gray rump and tail speckled with black
- © Christopher L. Wood, Cape May County, New Jersey