Black-tailed godwit

The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large, long- ficult to separate from the similar Bar-tailed Godwit, but
legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Lin- the black-tailed godwit’s longer, straighter bill and longer
naeus in 1758. It is a member of the Limosa genus, the legs are diagnostic.[3][4] Black-tailed godwits are similar
godwits. There are three subspecies, all with orange head, in body size and shape to bar-taileds, but stand taller.[2]
neck and chest in breeding plumage and dull grey-brown
It measures 42 cm (17 in) from bill to tail with a wingspan
winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wing- of 70–82 cm (28–32 in).[2] Males weigh around 280 g
bar at all times.
(9.9 oz) and females 340 g (12 oz).[5] The female is
Its breeding range stretches from Iceland through Europe around 5% larger than the male,[2] with a bill 12-15%
and areas of central Asia. Black-tailed godwits spend longer.[6]
winter in areas as diverse as the Indian Subcontinent, The most common call is a strident weeka weeka weeka.
Australia, western Europe and west Africa. The species
breeds in fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands A study of black-tailed godwits in the Netherlands found
and bogs and uses estuaries, swamps and floods in win- a mortality rate of 37.6% in the first year of life, 32% in
[2]
ter; it is more likely to be found inland and on freshwater the second year, and 36.9% thereafter.
than the similar bar-tailed godwit. The world population
is estimated to be 634,000 to 805,000 birds and is classi-
fied as Near Threatened. 2 Taxonomy
This species was first described, as Scolopax limosa,[2]
1 Description by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its scientific name is derived
from the Latin limus, meaning 'mud'. The black-tailed
godwit is a member of the genus Limosa (godwits), fam-
ily Scolopacidae (sandpipers) and order Charadriiformes,
the waders.[5] There are three subspecies:[4][7]

• L. l. limosa – (Linnaeus, 1758): the European black-

tailed godwit, which breeds from western and cen-
tral Europe to central Asia and Asiatic Russia, as far
east as the Yenisei River.[4] Its head, neck and chest
are pale orange.[2]
• L. l. islandica – Brehm, 1831: the Icelandic black-
tailed godwit, which breeds mostly in Iceland, but
also on the Faeroe Islands, Shetland and the Lofoten
Islands. It has a shorter bill, shorter legs and more
non-breeding plumage (with pink bill) rufous coloration extending onto the belly, com-
pared to limosa.[2]
The black-tailed godwit is a large wader with long bill (7.5
to 12 cm (3.0 to 4.7 in) long), neck and legs. During the • L. l. melanuroides – Gould, 1846: the Asian black-
breeding season, the bill has a yellowish or orange-pink tailed godwit, which breeds in Mongolia, northern
base and dark tip; the base is pink in winter. The legs China, Siberia and far eastern Russia.[4] Its plumage
[2] is similar to islandica, but the bird is distinctly
are dark grey, brown or black. The sexes are similar,
but in breeding plumage, they can be separated by the smaller.[2]
male’s brighter, more extensive orange breast, neck and
head. In winter, adult black-tailed godwits have a uni-
form brown-grey breast and upperparts (in contrast to the 3 Distribution and habitat
bar-tailed godwit's streaked back). Juveniles have a pale
orange wash to the neck and breast.[3] Black-tailed godwits have a discontinuous breeding range
In flight, its bold black and white wingbar and white rump stretching from Iceland to the far east of Russia.[4] Their
can be seen readily. When on the ground it can be dif- breeding habitat is river valley fens, floods at the edges

1
2 4 BEHAVIOUR

In flight

Threatened due to a decline in numbers of around 25%

Winter-plumaged black-tailed godwit, India in the previous 15 years.[1] It is also among the species
to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-
Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.[11]
of large lakes, damp steppes, raised bogs and moorlands.
An important proportion of the European population now
uses secondary habitats: lowland wet grasslands, coastal
grazing marshes, pastures, wet areas near fishponds or
4 Behaviour
sewage works, and saline lagoons. Breeding can also
take place in sugar beet, potato and rye fields in the 4.1 Breeding
Netherlands and Germany.[8]
In spring, black-tailed godwits feed largely in grass-
lands, moving to muddy estuaries after breeding and for
winter.[8] On African wintering grounds, swamps, floods
and irrigated paddy fields can attract flocks of birds. In
India, inland pools, lakes and marshes are used, and oc-
casionally brackish lakes, tidal creeks and estuaries.[2]
Godwits from the Icelandic population winter mainly in
the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and the Nether-
lands, though some fly on to Spain, Portugal and perhaps
Morocco.[9] Birds of the limosa subspecies from western
Europe fly south to Morocco and then on to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau. Birds from the eastern European popu-
lations migrate to Tunisia and Algeria, then on to Mali Displaying black-tailed godwit
or Chad.[10] Young birds from the European populations
stay on in Africa after their first winter and return to Eu-
Black-tailed godwits are mostly monogamous; although
rope at the age of two years.[8] Asian black-tailed godwits it was not recorded in a four-year study of 50–60 pairs,
winter in Australia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia,
bigamy was considered “probably frequent”.[2] A study
and Papua New Guinea. of the Icelandic population showed that despite spending
Black-tailed godwits are much more likely to be found on winter apart, pairs are reunited on their breeding grounds
inland wetlands than the more coastal bar-tailed godwit. within an average of three days of each other. If one
They migrate in flocks to western Europe, Africa, south partner does not arrive on time, 'divorce' occurs.[12] They
Asia and Australia. Interestingly, although this species nest in loose colonies. Unpaired males defend a tempo-
occurs in Ireland and Great Britain all year-round, they rary territory and perform display flights to attract a mate.
are not the same birds. The breeding birds depart in au- Several nest scrapes are made away from the courtship
tumn, but are replaced in winter by the larger Icelandic territory, and are defended from other godwits. Once
race. These birds occasionally appear in the Aleutian Is- eggs are laid, an area of 30–50 m (98–164 ft) around the
lands and, rarely, on the Atlantic coast of North America. nest is defended.[2] The nest is a shallow scrape on the
There is an estimated global population of between ground, usually in short vegetation.[13] The eggs may be
634,000 to 805,000 birds and estimated range of hidden with vegetation by the incubating parent.[2]
7,180,000 square kilometres (2,770,000 sq mi).[4] In The single brood of three to six eggs, coloured olive-green
2006 BirdLife International classified this species as Near to dark brown,[2] measure 55 mm × 37 mm (2.2 in ×

Limosa limosa - MHNT
1.5 in) and weigh 39 g (1.4 oz) each (of which 6% is
shell).[5] Incubation lasts 22–24 days and is performed by
both parents. The young are downy and precocial and are
brooded while they are small and at night during colder
weather. After hatching, they are led away from the nest
and may move to habitats such as sewage farms, lake
edges, marshes and mudflats.[2] The chicks fledge after
25–30 days.[5]
4.2 Food and feeding
Manly Marina, SE Queensland, Australia
They mainly eat invertebrates, but also aquatic plants in
winter and on migration. In the breeding season, prey in-
cludes beetles, flies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, mayflies, [10] “Black-tailed
caterpillars, annelid worms and molluscs. Occasionally,
fish eggs, frogspawn and tadpoles are eaten. In water,
[11] “Limosa limosa: Black-tailed Godwit”. AEWA birds.
the most common feeding method is to probe vigor-
ously, up to 36 times per minute, and often with the
head completely submerged. On land, black-tailed god-
wits probe into soft ground and also pick prey items from [12] “Icelandic birds rely on perfect timing”. BBC News website
the surface.[2]
3
5 Relationship to humans
In Europe, black-tailed godwits are only hunted in
France, with the annual total killed estimated at 6,000 to
8,000 birds. This puts additional pressure on the western
European population, and the European Commission has
a management plan in place for the species in its mem-
ber states.[14] In England, black-tailed godwits were for-
merly much prized for the table.[15] Sir Thomas Browne
(1605–1682) said: "[Godwits] were accounted the dain-
tiest dish in England and I think, for the bignesse, of the
biggest price.” Old names included Blackwit,[15] Whelp,
Yarwhelp, Shrieker, Barker and Jadreka Snipe.[16] The
Icelandic name for the species is Jaðrakan.[5]
6 References
[1] BirdLife International (2012). "Limosa limosa". IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Re-
trieved 26 November 2013.
[2] BWPi: The Birds of the Western Palearctic on interactive
DVD-ROM. London: BirdGuides Ltd. and Oxford Uni-
versity Press. 2004. ISBN 1-898110-39-5.
[3] Mullarney, Killian; Svensson, Lars; Zetterstrom, Dan;
Grant, Peter (1999). Collins Bird Guide. London: Harper-
Collins. p. 148. ISBN 0-00-219728-6.
[4] “Species factsheet: Limosa limosa”. BirdLife Interna-
tional. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
[5] Robinson, R.A. “Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa".
BirdFacts. British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved 27
April 2009.
[6] Vinicombe, Keith. “Black-tailed and Bar-tailed God-
wits”. Articles. Birdwatch magazine. Retrieved 3 January
2011.
[7] Clements, James F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of
Birds of the World. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-
0-8014-4501-9.
[8] Tucker, Graham M.; Heath, Melanie F. (1995). Birds in
Europe: Their Conservation Status. BirdLife Conservation
Series 3. Cambridge: BirdLife International. pp. 272–
273. ISBN 0-946888-29-9.
[9] “About the species”. Icelandic Godwits. Project Jaðrakan.
Retrieved 3 January 2011.
Godwit (Limosa limosa)".
BirdGuides.com. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
AEWA. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007.
Retrieved 3 January 2011.
(BBC). 3 November 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
4 8 EXTERNAL LINKS

[13] Gooders, John (1982). Collins British Birds. London:
William Collins Sons & Co Ltd. p. 182. ISBN 0-00-
219121-0.
[14] “Management Plan for Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa
limosa)" (PDF). European Commission. Retrieved 27
April 2009.
[15] Cocker, Mark; Mabey, Richard (2005). Birds Britannica.
London: Chatto & Windus. pp. 113–114. ISBN 0-7011-
6907-9.
• Interactive range map of Limosa limosa at IUCN
Red List maps
• Audio recordings of Black-tailed godwit on Xeno-
canto.
• Limosa limosa in the Flickr: Field Guide Birds of
the World
• Black-tailed godwit media at ARKive

[16] Greenoak, Francesca (1979). All The Birds Of The Air.

Book Club Association.

7 Further reading

7.1 Identification
• Vinicombe, Keith (1 January 2010). “Black-tailed
and Bar-tailed Godwits”. Birdwatch.

7.1.1 Separation of limosa and islandica

• Roselaar, C.S.; Gerritsen, Gerrit J. (1991).

“Recognition of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit and
its occurrence in the Netherlands” (PDF). Dutch
Birding 13 (4): 128–135.

• van Scheepen, Peter; Oreel, Gerald J. (1995).

“Herkenning en voorkomen van Ijslandse Grutto
in Nederland” [Identification and occurrence of
Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit in the Netherlands]
(PDF). Dutch Birding (in Dutch) 17 (2): 54–62.

• Evans, L.G.R. (July 2004). “Continental Black-

tailed Godwit at College Lake – the first confirmed
record for Buckinghamshire” (PDF). Rare Birds
Weekly.

• Vinicombe, Keith (2005) A tale of two godwits

Birdwatch 154:18-20

8 External links
• Black-tailed godwit species text in The Atlas of
Southern African Birds

• Ageing and sexing (PDF; 0.94 MB) by Javier

Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze

• Limosa limosa on Avibase

• Black-tailed godwit videos, photos, and sounds at

the Internet Bird Collection

• Black-tailed godwit photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel

University)
 5

9 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1 Text
• Black-tailed godwit Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_godwit?oldid=709130905 Contributors: William Avery, Shya-
mal, Jimfbleak, Big iron, JohnCastle, Robbot, Pigsonthewing, Kristof vt, Naddy, Smallweed, Radomil, Abigail-II, Arne List, Gdr,
Kelson, Bornintheguz, Rich Farmbrough, Xezbeth, Hesperian, Algirdas, Kurt Shaped Box, HenkvD, Isfisk, Rocastelo, Miaow Miaow,
Pkuczynski, SP-KP, Bluemoose, Koavf, FlaBot, Eubot, TeaDrinker, Gdrbot, YurikBot, Wavelength, RobotE, Breakinguptheguy, Nicke
L, Dysmorodrepanis~enwiki, Lt-wiki-bot, Notafly, Salvor, Cato Neimoidia, Snowmanradio, Richard001, Ex nihil, Amotis, Drinibot,
ShelfSkewed, Beastie Bot, Cydebot, MPRO, Aviceda, Casliber, JAnDbot, Dnem, Sophie means wisdom, Juonline, Andreas Trepte,
Vicpeters, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Charlesjsharp, Idioma-bot, TXiKiBoT, Luffy487, David Condrey, SieBot, MeegsC, Aearluin~enwiki,
Jmgarg1, Solar-Wind, DragonBot, Panellet, Bogbumper, BOTarate, Kruusamägi, Elatrin, WikHead, Addbot, ‫ماني‬, First Light, Luckas-
bot, Yobot, KamikazeBot, BruceMcAdam, Sz-iwbot, Materialscientist, GrouchoBot, RibotBOT, Simuliid, Archaeodontosaurus, Gouerouz,
Boterkuipje, AstaBOTh15, U317537, Jauhienij, Derild4921, RjwilmsiBot, EmausBot, Kmoksy, ClueBot NG, Chrisdoyleorwell, Helpful
Pixie Bot, BG19bot, Anwith, BattyBot, ChrisGualtieri, YFdyh-bot, Dexbot, Epicgenius, Jodosma, HeinzelMann1, Bartkauz, ArmbrustBot,
Stongey, Coreyemotela, Monkbot, Green daemon, GeneralizationsAreBad and Anonymous: 25

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