Black-tailed Godwit

Scientific Name: Limosa limosa
Malay Name: Kedidi-Raja Ekor Hitam
Chinese Name: 黑尾塍鹬

Range:
Breeds in Palearctic and northern China. Winters in Africa, Asia and Australasia.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: islandica, limosa, melanuroides, bohaii.

Local Subspecies: melanuroides

Size: 36-40 cm

Identification:
A fairly large wader with long blackish legs, rather long neck, long straight bi-coloured bill: pink at the base and black towards the tip. Breeding plumage has bright reddish-rufous head and breast, dark barring on belly. Non-breeding plumage has plain grayish head, breast and upperparts, unlike the streaked breast and back of the Bar-tailed Godwit. In flight shows bold white upperwing bars, white rump and black tail. 

Similar looking species: Asian Dowitcher, Bar-tailed Godwit

Habitat: Musflats, sandflats, coastal pools, sometimes wet paddy fields.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually found in flocks. Feeds mainly by wading in deeper water, probing with its long bill.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2017)

Featured articles:

• Bird List Revision for May 2019 (Revisions)

Featured reports: Aug 2022

Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Past records, bar chart (see more bar charts):

Black-tailed Godwit at Seletar Dam. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Black-tailed Godwit at Seletar Dam. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Black-tailed Godwit at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Black-tailed Godwit at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap