Bar-Tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Aves › Charadriiformes › Scolopacidae › Limosa
Conservation status: near_threatened
This large, strongly migratory wader belongs to the family Scolopacidae. It feeds on bristle-worms and shellfish found on coastal mudflats and estuaries.
How To Identify
A medium to large wading bird characterized by very long legs and a sturdy bill. It is easily identified by the distinct black barring pattern visible on its tail feathers.
Habitat
Bar-tailed Godwits breed in Arctic tundra and taiga regions, and winter in coastal mudflats, estuaries, and shallow bays in temperate and tropical zones.
Behaviour
They probe deeply into mud and sand with their long, slightly upturned bills to feed on invertebrates, often working in loose flocks and performing spectacular synchronized aerial displays during migration.
Native Range
The bar-tailed godwit is native to Arctic coasts and tundra from Scandinavia to Alaska.
Did You Know?
Bar-tailed Godwits undertake one of the longest non-stop migrations of any bird, with some individuals flying over 11,000 kilometers from Alaska to New Zealand without pausing to refuel. This extraordinary journey can take up to 11 days of continuous flight.
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