Quick identification
Red knot (Calidris canutus)
A chunky medium shorebird. Most island birds are gray above and pale below; spring migrants may show rich brick-red underparts.
Season and local range: Passage migrant and cool-season visitor.
Habitat and island setting
Open beach, tidal flats, jetties and shell-rich feeding areas.
Where to look
Check mixed shorebird flocks at the north end, Isla Blanca and nearby Boca Chica during migration and winter. Birds may move as tides, wind, fronts, water levels and activity at the site change.
What the bird is doing
Red knots make long migrations and depend on undisturbed feeding stops. Move around a flock rather than through it and keep vehicles well away.
Watching birds
Use binoculars or a camera zoom, stay on public paths and leave feeding, resting and nesting birds enough room to continue normal behavior. If a bird stops feeding, stands alert, calls repeatedly or moves away because of you, increase the distance. Check access information in the South Padre Island birding guide before making a special trip.