Nordmann’s Greenshank

Crown Pattern:  Common Greenshank typically shows a finely streaked crown year-round.  (The streaking also extends down the neck, but the crown does not change with posture, so it is easier to judge.)  On Nordmann’s, the crown typically either lacks a distinct pattern or appears spotted rather than streaked.  This distinction seems to be reliable in most cases.

Bill Size:  Nordmann’s typically has a thicker bill than Common.  It tends to be thicker both at the base and at the tip.  Its thickness often makes an immediate impression as being disproportionate—in such cases, bill size tends to be a reliable indicator.  However, Common’s bill is also thicker than those of most other Tringa species, and Nordmann’s’ bill thickness seems to vary, so there may be some overlap in this feature.

(Note that the bills of both Common and Nordmann’s can appear either straight or upcurved—within roughly the same range of variation.)

Bill Color:  The coloration of Nordmann’s’ bill varies more than Common’s, a difference that may be diagnostic in many cases.  Common’s bill consistently shows a blackish tip and a paler but dull-colored base (usually grayish, but sometimes with tones of green, pink, brown), with a gradual transition near the middle.

Nordmann’s often has a strongly bicolored bill, with a blackish tip and a pale yellow base, and a crisp contrast between the colors at mid-bill.  In many other individuals, however, the bill may appear either all-dark or weakly bicolored, with a dull greenish-gray base and blacker tip but no distinct demarcation.

Leg Color:  Both Nordmann’s and Common can have either dull greenish, grayish, or yellow legs, so this feature is rarely diagnostic.  Common most often has greenish legs, whereas Nordmann’s more often has yellow legs.  As with its bill color, Nordmann’s’ leg color seems to vary more than Common’s.

Leg Length:  Nordmann’s’ legs are slightly shorter than Common’s, especially the portion above the knee, but the difference is not always noticeable.  A rule of thumb that seems to apply in most cases is that the bare portion of Common’s upper shank is clearly more than half the length of its bill, whereas the upper shank of Nordmann’s is clearly less than half the length of its bill—but if the upper shank appears roughly half the length of the bill, focus on other features instead.

Body Size and Posture:  Nordmann’s is heavier bodied than Common and usually holds its head closer to the body, which accentuates its bulk and makes it appear to have a shorter neck.  This is a general tendency, not a diagnostic feature, but it is often a useful indicator to guide initial judgments.