Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris

Very common summer visitor. Medium-sized (26-28 cm), heavy-chested, dumpy, grey-brown above with dark streaking and white below with dark heart-shaped spots on breast and flanks. Longish slightly downcurved tapering black bill, dark smudge in front of eye and greenish-grey legs. Shows narrow white wingbars and white above upper tail in flight. In breeding plumage develops black and chestnut on wings, and spots on underparts become black and more extensive. Generally silent. Mudflats and sandy beaches.

Red Knot Calidris canutus

Uncommon summer visitor. Medium-sized (23-25 cm), compact, dumpy, pale uniform grey-brown above and white below with greyish chevron-shaped streaking on breast and flanks. Smaller than similar Great Knot, with shortish black bill, narrow dark line from bill to eye and greenish-grey legs. Shows narrow white wingbars in flight. In breeding plumage has rusty underparts. Higher numbers recorded during spring migration. Generally silent. Mudflats and sandy beaches.

Note: Red Knot differs from Great Knot as follows:

Smaller and more compact.
Paler and more uniformly grey-brown above.
Less streaking on head and crown.
Less heavily streaked below, giving paler appearance.
More contrast between upperparts and belly.
Shorter, straighter bill.
Darker lines from bill to eyes.
More prominent white eyebrows.

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