Red knot

Introduction: Red knot (Calidris canutus) were initially named after King Canute (985-1045) the king of England, Denmark and Norway. He had learned (from his bottom worshipping courtiers) that he was 'so great, he could command the tides of the sea to go back'. This feat was performed as he sat on his throne at the water's edge when the tide came in, waves lapping around his feet. No doubt this is a reference to the preferred habitats of red knots of roosting and foraging on mud and sand flats in sheltered lagoons and bays, estuaries and coastal wetlands.

Distribution: Coastal Namibia from Luderitz to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, with the range extending northwards through the Skeleton Coast as far as the Kunene River estuary.

Diet: Pecks and probes for all they're worth in shallow mud for snails, crabs and other small bivalves.

Description: Small to medium-sized shorebirds with intricately plumage patterns. Females are slightly larger in body and decurved bill size. Calidris was first described by Aristotle as 'a grey, waterside bird' thought to be either a sandpiper or a wagtail.

Breeding: Extralimital.

Size: 24cm.

Weight: 130g.

Wingspan: 60cm.