Black-tailed Godwit

The black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa, is a statuesque wader with a striking silhouette, characterized by its long legs and an equally long, straight bill. In its breeding attire, it dons an orange head, neck, and chest, while in the non-breeding season, it adopts a more subdued grey-brown plumage. Regardless of the season, it sports a distinctive black and white wingbar.

Identification Tips

When observing the black-tailed godwit, look for its long, straight bill, which can range from 7.5 to 12 cm in length, and its tall, elegant stance. The bill's base is tinged with yellowish or orange-pink during the breeding season, turning pink in winter. The legs are a dark hue, varying from grey to black. In flight, the bold black and white pattern on its wings and a white rump are conspicuous markers. Compared to the bar-tailed godwit, the black-tailed has a straighter bill and longer legs, and stands taller.

Habitat

The black-tailed godwit favors a range of wetland habitats for breeding, including fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands, and bogs. It is also known to adapt to human-altered landscapes such as wet grasslands and pastures.

Distribution

This species has a broad breeding range that spans from Iceland across Europe to central Asia. During the northern hemisphere winter, it migrates to diverse regions including the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe, and west Africa.

Behaviour

The black-tailed godwit is a sociable bird, often seen migrating in flocks. It exhibits a strong fidelity to its breeding grounds, where pairs reunite each season with remarkable punctuality. If a mate is delayed, 'divorce' may ensue.

Song & Calls

The most frequently heard call of the black-tailed godwit is a loud and insistent "weeka weeka weeka."

Breeding

These godwits are predominantly monogamous, with a tendency towards bigamy in some cases. They nest in loose colonies, with males establishing temporary territories for courtship. Both parents share the duty of incubating the olive-green to dark brown eggs, and the young are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching.

Similar Species

The bar-tailed godwit is the species most similar in appearance to the black-tailed godwit, but differences in bill shape, leg length, and plumage, particularly in flight, aid in their distinction.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the black-tailed godwit is varied, consisting mainly of invertebrates such as beetles, flies, and worms, with the addition of aquatic plants during winter and migration. They forage by probing in the mud or picking prey from the surface.

Conservation status

The black-tailed godwit is classified as Near Threatened, with an estimated global population of 634,000 to 805,000 birds. Conservation efforts are in place to address the decline in numbers and to manage the pressures from hunting in certain regions.