Great Knot

Calidris tenuirostris

Introduction

As the name suggests, larger than the familiar Knot, and with heavy spotting on its flanks, this extremely rare visitor from Siberia normally winters in south-east Asia and Australasia. A small population overwinters in the Persian Gulf.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

182.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

409 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Endangered

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Shetland, 1989

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution.

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

Great Knot is a very rare vagrant with recent records having been in summer.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Great Knot movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Great Knot, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Great Knot

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Scientific name: Calidris tenuirostris
Authority: Horsfield, 1821

BTO 2-letter code: KO
Euring code number: 4950

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: territ siberià
Czech: jespák velký
Danish: Storryle
Dutch: Grote Kanoet
Estonian: hiidrisla
Finnish: vuorisirri
French: Bécasseau de l’Anadyr

German: Großer Knutt
Hungarian: nagy partfutó
Icelandic: Grátíta
Italian: Piovanello gigante
Latvian: garknabja šnibitis
Lithuanian: laibasnapis begikas
Norwegian: Sibirsnipe

Polish: biegus wielki
Portuguese: seixoeira-grande
Slovak: pobrežník tenkozobý
Slovenian: tenkokljuni prodnik
Spanish: Correlimos grande
Swedish: kolymasnäppa

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species