>> GENERAL >>>>>
– large wader, smaller than Eurasian Curlew
– nocturnal/diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or (more regularly) in small to medium-sized flocks
– sometimes mixed with other larger waders
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa l. limosa, AD BREED
BIF3074, 02/06/2017, Ochsenmoor, Germany, Kai Bratke
– very long legs, in limosa the feet and a part of the tarsus protrude the tail
– in BREED breast, neck and head rusty brown, distincly paler than in islandica
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa l. limosa, AD BREED
BIF3075, 02/06/2017, Ochsenmoor, Germany, Kai Bratke
same as BIF3074
valid for all ssp.:
– very long, fairly straight bicoloured bill (usually less than half of the bill black tipped → Bar-tailed Godwit)
– underwing pure white with black leading and broad black trailing edge
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa l. limosa, AD BREED
BIF3076, 02/06/2017, Ochsenmoor, Germany, Kai Bratke
– the colour of the bill base ranges from orange to pale pink
– very contrasty upperwing with dark remiges and primary coverts and white wingbar
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD BREED
BIF3014, 04/06/2019, Snæfellsness, Iceland, Patrick Franke
distinctly differentiated from BREED mainland WP ssp. limosa by:
– rich chestnut coloured on head, neck and breast
– on average shorter-bill
– shorter legs
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD BREED
BIF3015, 01/06/2019, Myvatn, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– in islandica the barring of belly and flanks is usually more extend
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD BREED
BIF3016, 01/06/2019, Myvatn, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– the back is more coarsely black and brown patterned than in BREED limosa
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa islandica, AD BREED
BIF3017, 29/05/2019, Langanes, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– no white wedge on the lower back → Bar-tailed Godwit
– white tail with broad black terminal bar
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD BREED possibly M and F
BIF3020, 29/05/2019, Langanes, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– F on average larger, longer-billed and often slightly paler overall than M
– caution, sexing in the field is often not reliable
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD BREED possibly M and F
BIF3018, 29/05/2019, Langanes, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– in ssp. islandica only the feet protrude the tail (compare with ssp. limosa on BIF3075)
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa l. limosa
BIF3026, 29/06/2010, Kiskunság National Park, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– rather pale birds
– moult in limosa starts earlier than in islandica
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa l. limosa
BIF3028, 29/06/2010, Kiskunság National Park, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– at greater distance the black and white wing pattern is a giveaway
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa l. limosa
BIF3027, 11/02/2015, Ras Al Kabbah, Oman, Mathias Putze
– NBREED plain grey upperside, head and breast
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa melanuroides, 1CY
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, AD BREED -> NBREED
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, AD BREED
BIF3078, 10/08/2019, Gun Galuut, Mongolia, Andreas Buchheim
– in young 1CY the bill is still growing and thus appears confusingly short
– diagnostic clean white underwing with black trailing edge
– largely black tail
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa melanuroides, 1CY
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, AD BREED -> NBREED
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, AD BREED
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus, AD BREED
BIF3079, 10/08/2019, Gun Galuut, Mongolia, Andreas Buchheim
– striking wing pattern
– much longer legs than Bar-tailed Godwit
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– during migration usually single or series of short downslurs
– monophonic with inharmonic partials
– squeaky, a bit toy-like timbre reminding of Bar-tailed Godwit due to similar inharmonic partials, but at a lower frequency band and different call structure
– elements variable in length
– sometimes elements are linked, thus might appear as one broad modulated call in spectrograms
– overview –
– detail –
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa limosa, AD, call in flight
BIF3063, 01/05/2011, Zhanybekshalkar, Kazakhstan, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail –
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD, call in flight
BIF2997, 02/06/2019, Laugar, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail –
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD, call in flight
BIF3064, 17/06/2015, Snæfellsness, Iceland, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail –
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica, AD, call in flight
BIF3066, 17/06/2015, Snæfellsness, Iceland, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Bar-tailed Godwit (v)(a)
Willet (v)
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