the common redshank or simply redshank ("tringa totanus") is a eurasian wader in the large family scolopacidae. the genus name "tringa" is the new latin name given to the green sandpiper by aldrovandus in 1599 based on ancient greek "trungas", a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by aristotle. the specific "totanus" is from "tótano", the italian name for this bird.