Red knot

Scientific name: Calidris canutus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small sandpiper with rufous face and breast in breeding plumage; grey and white in winter. Compact, streamlined body with relatively short bill.

Size and weight

Weight 40–180 g (average 100–150 g), body length 23–26 cm.

Habitat

Arctic tundra and coastal mudflats with sparse vegetation, typically near shallow water. Prefers wet lowland areas with dwarf birch and lichen cover.

Distribution

Arctic breeder from Siberia to northern Canada. Occurs on coastal migration routes worldwide, especially mudflats and estuaries during spring and autumn passage.

Diet

Small invertebrates including bristle worms, crustaceans, and insect larvae; probes actively in mud and shallow water.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious, migrating in flocks of thousands. Diurnal and crepuscular activity peaks around tidal shifts. Minimal rest between feeding bouts during migration.

Hunting tips

Scout for small footprints and feeding trails in wet sand and exposed mudflats during low tide. Approach slowly and keep low when flocks roost on bars or beaches. Focus on tidal cycles when birds are pushed to concentrated feeding areas and are less mobile.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

France

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.