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Knot

Calidris canutus

Not yet photographed by the community

Brick-red in summer; forms massive winter flocks on estuaries.

Species Profile

Amber List (UK); migratory populations showing long-term decline

Lifespan: 12–20 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 23–26 cm, wingspan 47–54 cm; 100–180 g
Habitat: Coastal mudflats, sandy beaches, and estuaries during winter; Arctic tundra for breeding.
UK Distribution: Winter visitor to UK coasts, particularly abundant on estuaries and intertidal zones from August to May. Small numbers occasionally remain through summer.
Diet: Invertebrates including small molluscs, crustaceans, and marine worms found in mud and sand.
Prey: Small bivalves (cockles, mussels), amphipods, and polychaete worms extracted from sediment
Predators: Peregrine falcon, merlin, white-tailed eagle, and occasionally foxes and stoats
Mating Season: May to July (on Arctic breeding grounds)
Breeding: Clutch of 4 eggs, incubation period 21–22 days, single brood per season. Does not breed in the UK.
Behaviour: Highly gregarious, forming large flocks on coastal feeding grounds and roosting sites. Undertakes one of the longest migrations of any bird, travelling between Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites. Exhibits remarkable synchronised flight in flocks.

Did You Know?

•The knot can fly non-stop for up to 9,000 km during migration, covering the distance from Arctic breeding grounds to West African wintering sites
•Named after King Canute (Canutus), a legendary figure in medieval tales
•Knots undergo dramatic seasonal plumage changes, appearing grey in winter but acquiring russet-red breeding plumage in spring
•UK estuaries, particularly the Wash and Morecambe Bay, host internationally important wintering populations
•They can probe the mud to depths of 10 cm or more to extract hidden invertebrates

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