What does the Bar-tailed Godwit eat?

The Bar-tailed Godwit's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Carnivore (invertebrates)

How it forages

Probes deeply into soft mud or sand with its long bill, using sensitive nerve endings at the bill tip to detect prey. Feeds primarily on marine worms (polychaetes), bivalves, crustaceans, and insect larvae. Often feeds in flocks, moving systematically across mudflats.

When it feeds

Diurnal, primarily feeding during low tide periods, both day and night.

Explore the Bar-tailed Godwit