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Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) German name(s): "Uferschnepfe" Size: 36-44 cm; wing span 70-82 cm Body mass: 280 g (male), 340 g (female) averages; range: 150-500 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.35-0.45

Europe: Family Group 8 Family Group 8 Table Ruddy Turnstone Common Snipe Eurasian Woodcock Bar-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit Eurasian Curlew Whimbrel Little Curlew Sanderling Temminck's Stint Little Stint Dunlin Purple Sandpiper Marsh Sandpiper Common Greenshank Common Redshank Spotted Redshank Lesser Yellowlegs Wood Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Black-tailed Godwits are medium-sized waders. When seen in Europe, Black-tailed Godwits are usually in breeding plumage. During the breeding season most of the head, neck and chest is russet. The belly, vent and undertail coverts are light-grey to off-white, with brownish-grey barring. They have short light-grey supercilia and a small throat patch, while the cap is russet, streaked dark-grey. The back and wings are dark brownish-grey, with somewhat lighter brownish-grey edge lining. In eclipse their plumage is highly cryptic. Except for short light-grey eyebrows and a small throat patch, the rest of the head, neck and chest is plain grey with a brownish tinge. The belly, vent and undertail coverts are light-grey to off-white. The back and wings are dark brownish-grey, with somewhat lighter brownish-grey edge lining. The uppertail is black. In flight they show nearly white underwings with a prominent black fringe. On the upperwing they have conspicuous, broad wing bars. The eyes have dark irises. Black-tailed Godwits have a long, dark grey-tipped pinkish to yellowish, straight bill that is about twice as long as the size of the head. The long legs and the feet are dark-grey. Twitcher's tip Compared with Bar-tailed Godwits, they have less colour contrast in their non-breeding plumage. During the breeding season their belly is much lighter than the front and the head. The correct identification of waders ("shorebirds"), e.g. of the Calidris, Tringa, Actitis etc. or of the Charadrius, Pluvialis and related genera in the field can be quite tricky. We have therefore made an attempt to give some advice HERE.

Taxonomy, classification See Black-tailed Godwit at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Black-tailed Godwit is available HERE . There are 3 races of Black-tailed Godwits, which are a strongly migratory species. Race "islandica" breeds in Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, Shetland and the Lofoten Islands. Race "limosa", which is also called the "European Black-tailed Godwit", breeds in parts of southern Scandinavia, most of central, eastern and south-eastern Europe and eastward into central Asia, up to the Yenisei River. Race "melanuroides", the "Asian Black-tailed Godwit", breeds in Mongolia, northern China, Siberia and far-eastern Russia. They spend the northern winters in various parts of the world. Much of the European population will stay in western Ireland, western Iberia, around the Mediterranean or in sub-Saharan Africa or the East African highlands. Others will winter on the South coast of the Caspian Sea, the coastal fringe of Arabia, or parts of northern India. The East Asian population overwinters in parts of south-eastern Asia or Australia. There are only small areas where they stay permanently, mostly in southern England. In Europe mostly Black-tailed Godwits of nominate race "limosa" are found. Individuals of race "islandica" are also present. Their distinction from the nominal race in non-breeding plumage is rather difficult and they may therefore be underreported. Apart from a few locations along the Bay of Biscaye and in southern England, where they remain permanently, Black-tailed Godwits are found in Europe mainly as breeding migrants. Except for some isolated pockets, mostly in southern Germany and southern France, but also in some locations of the Danube river valley, the the breeding range of race "limosa" in Europe extends from the Benelux countries eastward, through northern Germany, much of Poland, parts of the Baltic states and further eastward, into mid-latitude Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. There are also a number of breeding sites around the coastline of Scandinavia, both on the Atlantic coastline and along the Baltic Sea. Black-tailed Godwits are winter visitors along much of the southern Irish, English and Welsh coastline, down the Bay of Biscaye and around Iberia and the Mediterranean Sea. During the breeding season Black-tailed Godwits have a preference for fresh water marshes, lake edges, submerged meadows and bogs. Outside the breeding season they are found mostly in coastal habitats, such as estuaries, swamps and tidal mudflats.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "limosa" D. Wilczynska reports spotting Black-tailed Godwits, nominate race "limosa", in Biebrza NP, Poland, in May 2017, and in meadows along the river Bug, near Brok Masovia, Poland, in May 2018. J. Pires reports spotting Black-tailed Godwits, nominate race "limosa", semi-regularly during the non-breeding season in various locations in near-coastal Portugal. C. Pears spotted Black-tailed Godwits, nominate race "limosa", in Clonakilty, County York, Ireland, in August 2023. A. Sarok found a Black-tailed Godwit, nominate race "limosa", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. Race "islandica" J. Pires reports finding Black-tailed Godwits, race "islandica", first in the Tejo estuary, Portugal, in July 2019. Two individuals were found in the estuaries of the Tejo and Sado rivers, Portugal, in August 2022. Race "melanuroides" Black-tailed Godwits, race "melanuroides", were found in Australia.

Photos

Race "limosa"

This race is also called the "European Black-tailed Godwit".

ADULT

PAIR

BREEDING

Black-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage in a marsh; probably the bird on the right, with higher colour contrast and deeper rufous front, is a male; the bird on the left may be a female (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of two Black-tailed Godwits (a pair?) in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ribeira das Enguias, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2022]

MALE

Frontal view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage feeding in a mudflat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2018]

Lateral view of a male Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Trancao, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Trancao, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2020]

Dorsal view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2018]

Lateral view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Trancao, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2020]

Near-frontal view of a female(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage lifting its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Dafundo beach, Lisbon, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female(?) Black-tailed Godwit, probably still in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2018]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage
feeding in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of Black-tailed Godwits in various stages of plumage resting on a mudflat (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County York, Ireland, August 2023]

Lateral view of Black-tailed Godwits in various stages of plumage resting on a mudflat (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Clonakilty, County York, Ireland, August 2023]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage spreading its wings
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ribeira das Enguias, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2022]

Black-tailed Godwits in breeding plumage foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ribeira das Enguias, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2022]

Lateral view of Black-tailed Godwits in various stages of moult, from eclipse to full breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Black-tailed Godwit in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Castro Marim, Vila Real Santo Antonio, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-lateral/lateral view of Black-tailed Godwits in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Samouco, Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Dafundo beach, Lisbon, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Samouco, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage; when digging deep in mud, the bill can look entirely black (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Lateral view of two Black-tailed Godwits in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Forte do Rato, Tavira, Algarve, September 2020]

Lateral view of Black-tailed Godwits in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Setubal, Portugal, August 2022]

Spectacular overview of a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits in non-breeding plumage taking off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Dorsal view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage in flight - note the characteristic white wing bar and the white square at the base of the tail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Castro Marim, Vila Real Santo Antonio, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage in flight - note the characteristic white wing bar (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Castro Marim, Vila Real Santo Antonio, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage on the point of landing - note the characteristic white wing bar and the white square at the base of the tail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Race "islandica"

This race is also called the "Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit".

ADULT

BREEDING

MALE

Frontal view of a male Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage; the deep-rufous colouring going far down the belly and the rather short bill suggest that this bird is race "islandica" (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral view of a male Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2022]

Lateral view of a male(?) Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage, seen together with a Black-winged Stilt
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Race "melanuroides"

Photos of Black-tailed Godwits, race "melanuroides", were taken in Australia.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Pair/mob/flock

While Black-tailed Godwits tend to nest in loose colony, each male defends a sizeable territory around its nest. Outside the breeding season, especially in preparation for migration, Black-tailed Godwits can form significant flocks.

Outside the breeding season Black-tailed Godwits can appear in large numbers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

Outside the breeding season Black-tailed Godwits can appear in large numbers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwits in non-breeding plumage with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit in non-breeding plumage gobbling up its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Castro Marim, Vila Real Santo Antonio, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

bltgodw_dw_20190414.m4a	limosa (Poland)	Contact calls(?)	© DW
bltgodw_jp_20200117.m4a	limosa (Portugal)	? (large flock)	© JP

More Black-tailed Godwit sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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