The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) is an Australian bird or regular visitor that can be identified most reliably by combining shape, plumage, habitat and behaviour. A large wader with a long slightly upturned two-toned bill, long legs and barred tail; non-breeding birds are grey-brown, while breeding males can become rich brick-red below. Adults are typically about 37–41 cm long, although posture, sex, age and plumage can affect how large an individual appears in the field.
How to identify a Bar-tailed Godwit
A large wader with a long slightly upturned two-toned bill, long legs and barred tail; non-breeding birds are grey-brown, while breeding males can become rich brick-red below. Start with overall silhouette before focusing on colour. Check the bill, legs, tail, wing shape and any bold head or body pattern. Distance, shade, glare and strong Australian sunlight can change the apparent colour of feathers, so several matching features are more useful than a single mark.
Bar-tailed Godwits spend long periods probing deeply into soft sediment and may feed in large mixed flocks with knots and other migratory shorebirds. Behaviour can be one of the quickest ways to confirm an identification because closely related birds often feed, fly or perch differently even when their plumage looks similar.
Where is the Bar-tailed Godwit found in Australia?
A widespread non-breeding migrant around Australian coasts, particularly in large estuaries and tidal bays.
Typical habitat includes intertidal mudflats, sandy estuaries, coastal lagoons, saltmarsh edges and high-tide roosts. Distribution can shift with rainfall, drought, breeding conditions, migration, tides and local food supply, so an apparently unusual sighting should be checked against season as well as location.
What does the Bar-tailed Godwit eat?
Marine worms, bivalves, crustaceans, insects and other invertebrates probed from mud and sand. Watching exactly how a bird feeds can provide another useful clue. Note whether it runs and pecks, probes mud, sweeps its bill, plunge-dives, surface-dips or catches food in flight. Feeding technique often separates species that share the same habitat.
Wild birds do not need processed human food. Protecting natural habitat, clean water and native food sources is usually a better way to support them than regular feeding.
Behaviour and calls
Bar-tailed Godwits spend long periods probing deeply into soft sediment and may feed in large mixed flocks with knots and other migratory shorebirds.
The common call is a nasal, slightly hoarse note, often given by flying birds. Voice can be especially useful when distance, a crowded flock or low light makes visual identification difficult. Try to notice the rhythm and tone as well as a written approximation of the sound.
Nesting and breeding
Breeding occurs in Arctic regions of Eurasia and Alaska; some populations make exceptionally long nonstop migrations to the Southern Hemisphere. Breeding timing varies according to latitude, climate and species. Many migratory shorebirds seen in Australia breed in the Northern Hemisphere, while resident terns and seabirds may nest on Australian beaches or offshore islands. If you find a nest or dependent young, observe from a respectful distance.
Similar birds
Black-tailed Godwits have a straighter bill, bold white wing stripe and black tail band, while Eastern Curlews have a much longer strongly downcurved bill.
When two species remain difficult to separate, compare photographs against multiple field marks rather than choosing on colour alone. Geographic range, voice, habitat and feeding style may be more decisive than one feather pattern.
Quick identification tip
Remember three things: its approximate size is 37–41 cm; its key visual clue is a large wader with a long slightly upturned two-toned bill, long legs and barred tail; non-breeding birds are grey-brown, while breeding males can become rich brick-red below.; and a typical setting is intertidal mudflats, sandy estuaries, coastal lagoons, saltmarsh edges and high-tide roosts. Matching all three gives a much stronger identification than any one clue by itself.
Sources and further reading
For additional Australian bird information and conservation guidance, see BirdLife Australia bird profiles and the Australian Museum bird collection. Image licensing and creator information for this page is recorded from the linked Wikimedia Commons file page.
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