Black-tailed Godwit

The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is an Australian bird or regular visitor that can be identified most reliably by combining shape, plumage, habitat and behaviour. A tall godwit with a long mostly straight bill, long legs and in flight a striking white wing stripe and black tail band; breeding birds develop warm orange-chestnut on the head and breast. Adults are typically about 37–42 cm long, although posture, sex, age and plumage can affect how large an individual appears in the field.

How to identify a Black-tailed Godwit

A tall godwit with a long mostly straight bill, long legs and in flight a striking white wing stripe and black tail band; breeding birds develop warm orange-chestnut on the head and breast. 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.

Black-tailed Godwits probe and sweep their bills through shallow water and soft mud, sometimes feeding in loose flocks with other large waders. 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 Black-tailed Godwit found in Australia?

An uncommon to locally regular migrant in Australia, most often recorded in northern and eastern wetlands and some major coastal sites.

Typical habitat includes shallow freshwater wetlands, estuaries, tidal flats, flooded fields, sewage ponds and coastal lagoons. 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 Black-tailed Godwit eat?

Worms, insects, molluscs, crustaceans and other small aquatic invertebrates. 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

Black-tailed Godwits probe and sweep their bills through shallow water and soft mud, sometimes feeding in loose flocks with other large waders.

Calls are clear, slightly nasal notes, particularly in flight or when a group is disturbed. 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 across temperate Eurasia; Australian birds are non-breeding migrants. 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

Bar-tailed Godwits have a slightly upturned bill and barred tail rather than a solid black tail band, while Eastern Curlews are larger and strongly downcurved-billed.

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 37–42 cm; its key visual clue is a tall godwit with a long mostly straight bill, long legs and in flight a striking white wing stripe and black tail band; breeding birds develop warm orange-chestnut on the head and breast.; and a typical setting is shallow freshwater wetlands, estuaries, tidal flats, flooded fields, sewage ponds and coastal lagoons. 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.