8

Black-tailed Godwit

(Limosa limosa)
Size: 36-44 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Black-tailed Godwits are mostly found along the tropical north caost of the NT and WA and the east coast of QLD from about Townsville to Brisbane. In the south found along the lower Murray River. Occasionally, after significant rainfall, they venture along other parts of the Australian coastline and the semi-arid interior, bascially anywhere but the most arid part of the continent from roughly the Nullarbor to south of the Kimberleys.

Black-tailed Godwits have a preference for sandbanks and also intertidal flats.

Sightings

A group of five Black-tailed Godwits in non-breeding plumage were spotted by us at the Urunga Boardwalk, Urunga Heads, NSW, in January 2011.

Previously also spotted by us in Oman.

Photos

Lateral view of a Black-tailed Godwit; the black tip of the tail is clearly visible; note also the straight bill, which is different compared to a Bar-tailed Godwit's up-bent bill

View of the back of the same bird as above

Here a bird seen foraging in a mangrove swamp

Here the whole group together

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.