
Common Greenshank
The common greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 1,100 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Common Greenshank is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,100 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Common Greenshank
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Common Greenshank recorded here
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Common Greenshank recorded here
Common Greenshank recorded here
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Common Greenshank recorded here
Common Greenshank recorded here
Common Greenshank recorded here
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Common Greenshank recorded here
Common Greenshank recorded here
Common Greenshank recorded here
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Common Greenshank recorded here
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Common Greenshank recorded here
Common Greenshank recorded here
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Common Greenshank
Hosts have recorded the Common Greenshank at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Where to base yourself
- Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
- LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
- Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
- KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Tringa nebularia
Records
1,100
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Common Greenshank on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Common Greenshank in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Common Greenshank at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Common Greenshank in South Africa?
The Common Greenshank is most recorded in Western Cape (50% of records), Limpopo (13% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (12% of records), based on 1,100 iNaturalist observations. 47 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Common Greenshank on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Common Greenshank?
The Common Greenshank is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Common Greenshank?
The common greenshank (Tringa nebularia) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. The genus name Tringa is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific nebularia is from Latin nebula "mist".































