Bird · GBIF taxon 2481768
Great Knot
Calidris tenuirostrisAlso known as Eastern Great Knot, Great Red Knot
Great knots complete one of the avian world's most daunting migrations, traveling over 10,000 kilometers from high Arctic tundra breeding grounds in eastern Siberia to coastal mudflats across Australasia. During non-breeding months, these large sandpipers gather in massive, tightly packed flocks on intertidal shores where they probe deeply for bivalves and small invertebrates. Severe habitat loss along crucial Yellow Sea staging posts has caused steep population declines in recent decades.
MigratoryShorebirdWader
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Bivalves
- Marine Worms
- Small Crustaceans
Predators
- Peregrine Falcon
- White-bellied Sea Eagle
- Arctic Fox
ThreatsTidal mudflat reclamation in the Yellow Sea, coastal development, and climate change
HabitatsSubarctic tundra, intertidal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches
Life span10–18 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyScolopacidae
- SpeciesCalidris tenuirostris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a robust sandpiper with a long, slightly decurved bill, heavily spotted chest, and grayish-brown upperparts.
- Support conservation
- Keep a distance of at least 100 meters from roosting or feeding flocks and keep dogs strictly on leashes.
Responsible observation
- Observe from Distance: Stay well back from roosting flocks, as taking flight wastes vital migratory fat reserves.
- Use Optics: Spotting scopes or high-powered binoculars allow clear viewing without disturbing feeding birds.
- Watch the Tides: Time your visits around high tide when birds concentrate along upper beach roosts.
Co-occurring Wader (c) Tim, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim · cc-by
Tundra Breeder (c) Валерия Ковалева, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Paolo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Paolo · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Marco Chan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marco Chan · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.