Limosa lapponica
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Mass
~290 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The bar-tailed godwit is a long-billed shorebird with a low, steady build and relatively short legs. In breeding plumage, males look especially rich and warm-toned, while in winter both sexes turn much plainer.
It moves with purpose along the waterline, feeding on mud and shallow flats rather than lingering in one spot. It works both by day and at night when the tide suits it, and it is famous for covering huge distances in one stretch.
Look for it on Arctic tundra and along coasts with soft ground and plenty of food. It takes worms, crabs, shellfish, and other small animals, breeding far north and wintering on warmer shores in Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The bar-tailed godwit is a long-billed shorebird with a low, steady build and relatively short legs. In breeding plumage, males look especially rich and warm-toned, while in winter both sexes turn much plainer.
It moves with purpose along the waterline, feeding on mud and shallow flats rather than lingering in one spot. It works both by day and at night when the tide suits it, and it is famous for covering huge distances in one stretch.
Look for it on Arctic tundra and along coasts with soft ground and plenty of food. It takes worms, crabs, shellfish, and other small animals, breeding far north and wintering on warmer shores in Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
