Bar-tailed Godwit

The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a large, migratory wader belonging to the family Scolopacidae. It is notable for its long, slightly upturned bill, which is bi-colored—pink at the base and black towards the tip. In breeding plumage, the adult exhibits a distinctive red coloration on the neck, breast, and belly, with the males being more vivid than the females. The species is also characterized by its blue-grey legs and the namesake barred pattern on its tail and upper tail coverts.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Bar-tailed Godwit, look for the horizontal black-and-white barring on the tail, which distinguishes it from the Black-tailed Godwit with its solid black tail. The lack of white wing bars is another key feature. The bill is long and slightly upturned, with a two-tone coloration. In non-breeding plumage, these birds appear grey-brown with a striped look due to darker feather centers and are whitish underneath. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but are more buff overall with streaked flanks and breast.

Habitat

Bar-tailed Godwits favor coastal mudflats and estuaries where they feed on invertebrates. During the breeding season, they inhabit Arctic coasts and tundra.

Distribution

This species breeds across the Arctic from Scandinavia to Alaska and migrates to temperate and tropical regions of Australia and New Zealand for the winter. The subspecies L. l. baueri is known for its remarkable non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to New Zealand.

Behaviour

Bar-tailed Godwits exhibit strong migratory behavior, with some subspecies undertaking the longest known non-stop flights of any bird. They are capable of predicting weather patterns that will assist them on their entire migration route. The birds mix freely on non-breeding grounds regardless of size differences that may be apparent in their breeding territories.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in the Arctic, where the nest is a shallow cup in moss, sometimes lined with vegetation. Clutch size ranges from 2 to 5, with both sexes sharing incubation duties.

Similar Species

The Bar-tailed Godwit can be confused with the Black-tailed Godwit and the Asiatic Dowitcher. However, the barred tail and lack of white wing bars can help differentiate it from these species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet primarily consists of bristle-worms, supplemented by small bivalves and crustaceans on mudflats. In wet pastures, they consume various invertebrates.

Conservation status

The Bar-tailed Godwit is classified as Near Threatened, with a declining population. Threats include habitat loss due to the construction of seawalls and reclamation of mudflats, leading to a reduction in food supplies during migration. Conservation efforts are in place under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).