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Meet our Wildlife
Meet our Wildlife

Knot

Wading Birds
Gulls
Coastal Birds

Knot

Scientific Name: ( Calidris canutus )
A medium sized, long-distance migrant, the Knot is a winter visitor to the coast and estuaries around the UK.
The Knot is a medium-large sized wading bird that migrates in large numbers to the UK during winter from their breeding grounds in the arctic. They are typically found in estuaries around the coast and specialise in probing their bills into the mud to feed on invertebrates, molluscs, and crustaceans. They have special sensory organs in their bill tips which help them to detect buried prey beneath the sand and silt whilst foraging. These sensory organs are so efficient, they can detect vibrations from 2cm away, so they don’t need to physically touch something to know it’s there.
In winter, Knots are silvery-grey with white underbellies and stocky grey-green legs. Their heads are quite small in comparison to their bodies. They can be seen resting together in huge numbers during high tide on saltmarshes and estuaries around the UK.
Knots are amber listed in the UK. Although they are not listed in the Special Protection Areas covering the Sunderland coast, the UK supports large numbers of birds during the winter months and therefore the protection of our coastal habitats is crucial for their survival.
Sightings of knot are intermittent along the Sunderland coastline, but birds are known to visit the area from August onwards. They are sometimes spotted feeding alongside other waders around the Whitburn Steel area, so this is a good place to look for them. Good locations to spot them in Sunderland are highlighted on the map below. Always remember to follow our guidance when it comes to reducing bird disturbance.
KEY FACTS
CONSERVATION STATUS | Amber
LENGTH | 23-25cm
WINGSPAN | 47-54cm
WHEN TO SEE THEM |

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