Key information
The knot is a dumpy, short-legged, stocky wading bird. In winter, it is grey above and white below - in summer the chest, belly and face are brick-red. In flight, it shows a pale rump and a faint wing-stripe. It forms huge flocks in winter which wheel and turn in flight, flashing their pale underwings as they twist and turn.
Many knots use UK estuaries as feeding grounds, both on migration and in winter, and therefore the population is vulnerable to any changes such as barrages, sea-level rises and human disturbance. Large numbers of birds visit the UK in winter from their Arctic breeding grounds.
What they eat:
Shellfish and worms.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 23-25cm
- Wingspan:
- 47-54cm
- Weight:
- 125-215g
Population:
- UK wintering:
- 320,000 birds
Identifying features:
This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.
Knot (adult summer plumage)
Knot (winter plumage)
