Specie's Page                                               Black-tailed Godwit - Small Waders

Black-tailed Godwit:

UK Status: Resident and over wintering migrant. The birds that breed in the UK overwinter in Africa. The birds that over winter in the UK, breed in Iceland and are a sub species called Limosa limosa islandia.

Habitat: This bird is found on or near the coast when over wintering here, and favours coastal marshes and lagoons. Birds breeding here tend to inhabit both coastal and inland, flat lowland marshes.

Breeding: During the breeding season these birds have orange heads, necks and chests. In the winter months they are grey above, and white below. Not many of these birds stay in the UK and breed. Nests are shallow scrapes on the ground, usually amongst vegetation. There is usually only one brood each season, consisting of three to five olive green eggs, with brown markings.

Comment: Common during autumn when the migrants arrive from Iceland. During the winter numbers are lowered by our resident birds migrating to Africa. Resident bird numbers have dwindled in recent years, and the species is now on the red list.