Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Family: Sandpipers and Allies · Status: Uncommon migrant · Size: 37–41 cm · Conservation: Near Threatened

Range

Breeds in the Arctic tundra across Scandinavia, northern Russia, Siberia, and Alaska. Winters along coasts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

Identification

Fairly large black-legged wader with a long, tapering, slightly upturned bicoloured bill with pink base and black tip. In non-breeding plumage, shows pale golden-buff upperparts with dark feather centres, white belly, dark crown and eyestripe, white supercilium, and fine neck streaking. In breeding plumage, male has brick-red underparts, while female has cinnamon-orange underparts. In flight, shows black-and-white barred tail and indistinct wing bar. Black-tailed Godwit has longer legs, a straighter bill, fully black tail contrasting with white uppertail-coverts (best seen in flight), and bold white wing bar in flight. Asian Dowitcher is smaller with a broader, more blunt-tipped bill.

Habitat

Mudflats, sandflats and beaches.

Behaviour

Feeds on marine invertebrates on open mud, sand, and in shallow water by probing with its long bill; roosts in large flocks on intertidal flats.