Black-tailed Godwit

Overview

Black-tailed Godwit: Large, tall godwit with black-barred, orange-brown body. Orange-brown head and neck, and white mark between eye and bill; combination of prominent white rump, white wing bar, and pure white underwings is unique among the godwits. Black-tipped yellow bill is long and straight.

Range and Habitat

Black-tailed Godwit: Found in a variety of flooded grasslands, estuaries, and exposed mudflats across northern Europe and Asia. Casual on Pribilofs and along the Atlantic Coast.

INTERESTING FACTS

Although this species occurs in Ireland and Great Britain all year round, they are not the same birds. The breeding birds depart in autumn, and are replaced in winter by the larger Icelandic race, L. l. islandica.
In 2006 the Black-tailed Godwit was classified as a Near Threatened species by BirdLife International due to a decline in numbers of around 25% in the previous 15 years.
They are monogamous and establish life-long relationships which can last up to 25 years, despite, or perhaps aided by the fact that the winters are spent around 600 miles apart.
A group of godwits are collectively known as an "omniscience", "pantheon", and "prayer" of godwits.

The Black-tailed Godwit is a large shorebird which breeds in various areas, spanning from Iceland to Europe and central Asia. In winter months, this migratory species may fly to areas such as Australia, western Europe or west Africa. Its natural habitat includes lake edges, meadows, bogs and swamps. The Black-tailed Godwit is typically found inland and near or in freshwater areas, and tends to dine on insects, fish eggs and other invertebrates. The world population of the Black-tailed Godwit is estimated to be 634,000 to 805,000, and is classified as Near Threatened. Threats to this species include the fact that they are widely hunted in France.