Red Knot - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Calidris canutus

Conservation status in NSW: Not listed

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 13 Oct 2021

Description

A medium-sized stocky shorebird (to 25 cm in length) with a short straight bill, long wings extending beyond the tip of the tail at rest and short black legs. Plain grey above and white below in non-breeding plumage. In flight it shows a pale wing-bar on the upper wing and a lightly barred white rump. In breeding plumage the mantle and shoulders become variably dark-centred with red patches, and the belly, breast and face become reddish.

There are six currently recognised subspecies, of which two regularly occur in Australia. In subspecies rogersi (more common in NSW) the breeding plumage feathers of the upperparts are largely grey-fringed. Subspecies piersmai has more extensively red and black feathering and a redder hind-neck. These two subspecies cannot be separated in the field when in non-breeding plumage.

Distribution

The Red Knot is a non-breeding migratory visitor from Arctic regions of Siberia. It is capable of flying non-stop between north-eastern China and northern Australia. Birds arrive between September and October and leave between March and April, with a small number of individuals overwintering. In NSW it is recorded in small numbers along some of the major river estuaries and sheltered embayments of the coastline, in particular the Hunter River estuary. This environment is used as a staging area for birds to rest and replenish fat resources; large numbers arrive in September then most move south to Victoria by October. The Red Knot is a rare visitor to wetlands away from the coast with a few records (mostly during southward migration) as far west as Lake Menindee and the Riverina.

Habitat and ecology

In NSW the Red Knot mainly occurs in small numbers on intertidal mudflats, estuaries, bays, inlets, lagoons, harbours and sandflats and sandy beaches of sheltered coasts. It is occasionally found on sandy ocean beaches or shallow pools on exposed wave-cut rock platforms and is a rare visitor to terrestrial saline wetlands and freshwater swamps.
It usually forages near the water’s edge, with feeding activity regulated by the tide as birds closely follow the tide-edge.
The diet consists of worms, bivalves, gastropods, crustaceans and echinoderms.
The birds roost on sandy beaches, spits, islets and mudflats close to feeding grounds, usually in open areas.
It is rarely found on inland lakes or swamps.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

The dominant threat to the Red Knot in NSW is loss and/or degradation of high tide roosting habitat and feeding habitat which affects the ability of the birds to build up the energy stores required for successful migration and breeding. Habitat loss may be direct (through land clearing, inundation, infilling or draining) or indirect (due to changes in water quality, hydrology or structural changes near roosting sites). Activities that cause habitat degradation include loss of marine or estuarine vegetation which alters the dynamic equilibrium of sediment banks and mudflats, invasion of intertidal mudflats by weeds such as cord grass, water pollution and changes to hydrological regime, and exposure of acid sulphate soils.
Only a small number of localities support a large number of individuals, in particular Kooragang Island and the lower Hunter estuary. The subspecies is therefore particularly susceptible to impacts at these small number of sites along the NSW coastline.
Roosting and foraging birds are sensitive to human disturbance, for example from fishing, power boating, jet skiing, wind and kite surfing, four-wheel driving, walking including with dogs, noise and night lighting. Sustained disturbances can prevent shorebirds from using parts of the habitat. Constant disturbance prior to migration can be effect the ability of the birds to build up the required energy stores.
Human infrastructure around migration pathways, or between roosting and foraging sites, such as wind farms, powerlines or aircraft can result in direct mortality.
Chemical or oil spills can result in direct mortality. This threat is greatest in environments with high levels of ship loading activities.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 0 priority actions to help recover the Red Knot in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Protect foraging habitat, particularly in important estuaries and embayments. Protect key identified high tide roosts.
Protect important foraging and roosting habitat from constant human disturbance. Erect signage at the approaches to high tide roosts to reduce the levels of disturbance, including excluding dogs or keeping them on leashes.
Prevent habitat becoming overgrown by weeds.
Protect habitat from predators, in particular the Fox and feral Cat at high tide roosts which are part of the mainland. Exclude dogs from high tide roost areas..
Undertake management activities to rehabilitate high tide roosts which have become abandoned due to weed growth or mangrove invasion of saltmarsh areas.
Support ongoing monitoring of shorebirds along the NSW coastline. In estuaries poorly surveyed undertake steps to improve monitoring.
Prepare strategies to minimise the incidence of direct mortality as a result of chemical and oil spills in important shoreline areas, such as the Hunter River estuary.
Prepare strategies to minimise the incidence of direct mortality as a result of new windfarms, new airports or runway expansions and powerlines passing between foraging and roosting areas.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	None
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	South Pacific Ocean	Known	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Northern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Southern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	East Gippsland Lowlands	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None

Images

Red Knots, Lake Wolumboola Image 1 of 2.
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Nature conservation

Threatened species