Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

With its impressive long-distance flights, this shorebird traverses the globe, covering thousands of miles in a single journey.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Bar-tailed Godwit is a large shorebird with a long, slightly upturned bill. In breeding plumage, males display rich chestnut-red underparts, while females are paler with mottled brown colouration. Both sexes have a distinctive barred tail, giving the species its name.

Non-breeding adults are predominantly grey-brown above and white below, with females appearing larger and paler than males. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have buff-tinged upperparts and a shorter bill.

Size

Length

37cm to 41cm

Wingspan

70cm to 80cm

Weight

190g to 400g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Pink Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Bar-tailed Godwit can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Bar-tailed Godwit can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Bar-tailed Godwit is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Bar-tailed Godwits inhabit coastal areas, including mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches across their vast range. They breed in Arctic tundra regions of Alaska, Scandinavia, and Siberia.

During non-breeding seasons, they migrate to coastal areas in temperate and tropical regions. Significant populations can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and parts of Western Europe, including the UK.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 440 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Bar-tailed Godwit. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons