Black-tailed Godwit

About

The Black-tailed Godwit is a large, long-legged, and long-billed wading bird, known for its striking breeding plumage and distinctive black tail with a white base in flight. It is a highly migratory species, breeding in temperate Eurasia and wintering in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. It is a characteristic bird of wet grasslands and shallow wetlands.

Size & lifespan

Length

36-44 cm (14-17 in)

Wingspan

62-82 cm (24-32 in)

Weight

160-500 g (5.6-17.6 oz)

Lifespan

Up to 15-20 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore (primarily invertebrates)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Breeding adults have a rich rufous-chestnut head, neck, and breast, fading to barred flanks and a white belly. The back is mottled brown. In flight, a broad white wing-bar and a distinctive black tail with a white base are prominent. Non-breeding plumage is duller, mostly grey-brown above and whitish below. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have a buff wash on the breast and flanks.

Beak shape

Long, straight, or slightly upturned bill, pinkish at the base and dark towards the tip.

Eye color

Dark brown

Leg color

Long, dark grey to blackish legs, trailing well beyond the tail in flight.

Distinguishing features

Long legs and bill, broad white wing-bar, and black tail with white base in flight. The rufous breeding plumage is also a key feature.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but have a buffy wash on the head, neck, and breast, and often have more distinct scaling on the upperparts.

Seasonal changes

Dramatic change from dull grey-brown non-breeding plumage to vibrant rufous-chestnut breeding plumage. The white wing-bar and black tail are consistent in all plumages.

Sexual dimorphism

Males in breeding plumage are typically brighter and more extensively rufous than females, especially on the head and breast. Females are often slightly larger and heavier.

How to identify

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Look for a large, elegant wader with very long legs and a very long, straight or slightly upturned bill.

2. 2

   Flight Pattern

   Observe its strong, direct flight. Crucially, look for the broad white wing-bar and the striking black tail with a white base, which are diagnostic in flight.

3. 3

   Breeding Plumage

   In spring and summer, identify the rich rufous-chestnut on the head, neck, and breast, contrasting with the mottled brown back and barred flanks.

4. 4

   Non-breeding Plumage

   In autumn and winter, look for a plainer grey-brown upperparts and whitish underparts, but still note the long bill and legs, and the flight pattern.

5. 5

   Vocalizations

   Listen for its distinctive 'grutto' call or the bubbling display song during the breeding season.

6. 6

   Feeding Behavior

   Watch for its characteristic deep probing in soft mud or shallow water with its long bill.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Wetlands, grasslands, marshes, estuaries, floodplains, agricultural fields (especially wet meadows and rice paddies).

Geographic range

Breeds across temperate Eurasia from Iceland and Western Europe to Central Asia and Siberia. Winters in Western and Southern Europe, Africa (especially sub-Saharan), the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Elevation range

Primarily lowlands, typically below 500 meters, but can be found at higher altitudes during migration.

Preferred environments

Shallow freshwater wetlands, wet grasslands, sedge meadows, floodplains for breeding. Estuaries, coastal lagoons, mudflats, and rice fields for wintering and migration.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, but can feed at night during migration or on tidal flats.

Feeding habits

Probes soft mud and shallow water with its long bill to find invertebrates such as insect larvae, worms, molluscs, and crustaceans. Also consumes some plant material, especially seeds and roots, particularly in winter.

Social behavior

Highly gregarious, especially outside the breeding season, forming large flocks on migration and in wintering grounds. Breeds in loose colonies or scattered pairs.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct flight with powerful, shallow wingbeats. Often flies in V-formations or long lines during migration. In display flight, males perform aerial acrobatics with deep wingbeats and calls.

Migration pattern

Long-distance migrant. Northern populations migrate south to Africa and southern Asia, while western European populations may winter closer to their breeding grounds or move to southern Europe/North Africa. Migration occurs in broad fronts, often with stopovers at key wetland sites.

Territoriality

Males establish small breeding territories, which they defend with calls and display flights. Outside the breeding season, they are not territorial.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

April to July, varying geographically.

Nesting habits

Nests are shallow scrapes on the ground, typically in dense vegetation in wet grasslands or meadows, often near water. Lined with grass, sedges, and other plant material.

Clutch size

Usually 4 eggs.

Egg description

Typically 4 eggs, olive-brown to dark olive-green, sometimes with darker spots or blotches. Pyriform (pear-shaped).

Incubation period

22-24 days, primarily by the female, but both parents participate.

Fledging period

25-30 days. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, feeding themselves under parental supervision.

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and care for the chicks. Chicks are led to feeding areas and protected from predators until fledging.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Scan open wetlands. Black-tailed Godwits prefer open, shallow water or wet ground where they can easily probe for food. Use a scope or binoculars to scan large areas.
2. Look for flocks. Outside the breeding season, they are highly gregarious. Look for large, often noisy, flocks feeding together or resting on mudflats.
3. Observe flight. The flight pattern and especially the wing and tail markings are crucial for identification. Watch birds taking off or flying overhead.
4. Listen for calls. Their distinctive calls, particularly the 'grutto' or 'wicka-wicka', can often alert you to their presence before you see them.
5. Visit during migration. Spring and autumn migration periods offer excellent opportunities to see large numbers of godwits at stopover sites.

Similar species

Quick facts

Bill Length:

9-12 cm (3.5-4.7 in)

Migration Distance:

Up to 10,000 km (6,200 miles) annually

Subspecies:

3 recognized: L. l. limosa (Western European), L. l. islandica (Icelandic), L. l. melanuroides (Eastern Asian)

Ecological Role:

Important consumer of invertebrates in wetland ecosystems, indicator species for wetland health.

Fun facts

• The Icelandic subspecies (L. l. islandica) is known for its particularly vibrant rufous breeding plumage.
• Black-tailed Godwits are capable of extremely long non-stop flights during migration, fueled by significant fat reserves.
• The Dutch name 'Grutto' is onomatopoeic, derived from its characteristic call.
• Conservation efforts for the Black-tailed Godwit often focus on protecting and restoring wet grassland habitats, which are under threat from agricultural intensification.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Scolopacidae

Genus

Limosa

Species

Limosa limosa

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