Black-tailed Godwits

The Black-tailed Godwit is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird with an orange head, neck and chest in its breeding plumage and a uniform brown-grey breast and upperparts in winter. During the breeding season, the bill has a yellowish or orange-pink base and dark tip but the base is pink in winter. The legs are dark grey, brown or black. The sexes are similar but in breeding plumage they can be separated by the male's brighter, more extensive orange breast, neck and head. In flight, the bold black and white wingbar and white rump can be seen readily. When on the ground the Black-tailed Godwit can be difficult to separate from the similar Bar-tailed Godwit but the Black-tailed Godwit's longer, straighter bill and longer legs are diagnostic.

The Black-tailed Godwit’s breeding range stretches from Iceland through northern Europe and areas of central Asia where it can be found in fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs. It winters in areas as diverse as the Indian Subcontinent, Australia, western Europe and west Africa where it can be found on estuaries and floods. It is also more likely to be found inland and on freshwater than the Bar-tailed Godwit.

Date: 7th January 2012

Location: Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk