Godwit

Godwit is a common name for several large shorebirds in the family Scolopacidae, all placed in the genus Limosa. The group includes four widely recognized species: bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica), and marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa).

Godwits are medium-to-large waders characterized by long legs and very long bills, which they use to probe mud and shallow water for prey. Plumage varies with season and species; breeding adults often show more rufous tones on the underparts and upperparts, while non-breeding plumage is generally duller gray-brown. Size and coloration can differ between males and females and among subspecies.

Habitat and foraging behavior center on estuaries, mudflats, and other shallow coastal habitats. They feed primarily on benthic invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, and worms, using their sensitive bills to detect prey buried in the sediment. Godwits are highly migratory, with many populations undertaking long-distance migrations between Arctic breeding grounds and temperate wintering areas.

Breeding occurs in Arctic or subarctic tundra, where each species nests on the ground, laying a clutch of typically three to five eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and rear the chicks. Migration routes are extensive and may cross oceans and continents, reflecting their reliance on a chain of coastal stopover sites to refuel.

Conservation status varies by species and population. Habitat loss and degradation at wetlands used for stopovers and wintering can impact several populations, underscoring the importance of wetland protection for the long-term viability of godwit species.