A long-legged, long-billed wader, dark on the ground but revealing broad white bands on wings and vivid white rump in flight. Rarely flies without fast, loud yelping or clear, ringing calls. A waterside or mudflat bird outside the breeding season, often in saltmarsh creeks.

On beaches of rocks, shingle, sand, or mud, around reservoir edges and beside winter floods or freshwater marsh, there will likely be Redshanks probing in wet mud and shallow water for food. At the merest hint of danger they raise their voices in almost hysterical, wild yelping whistles.