Limosa limosa

Limosa limosa (*)

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Cladus: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Ordo: Charadriiformes
Subordo: Charadrii

Familia: Scolopacidae
Genus: Limosa
Species: Limosa limosa
Subspecies: L. l. bohaii – L. l. islandica – L. l. limosa – L. l. melanuroides
Name

Limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonymy

Scolopax limosa (protonym)

References

Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio Decima, Reformata. Tomus I. Holmiæ (Stockholm): impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. 824 pp. DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542 BHL p. 147 BHL Reference page.

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Swartstertgriet
العربية: بقويقة سلطانية سوداء الذيل
asturianu: Abuya de Rau Prietu
azərbaycanca: Böyük oxcüllüt
башҡортса: Ҡыҙғатау
беларуская (тарашкевіца): Вераценьнік вялікі
беларуская: Грыцук вялікі
български: Черноопашат крайбрежен бекас
বাংলা: কালালেজ জৌরালি
brezhoneg: Marc'heg lost du
català: Tètol cuanegre
čeština: Břehouš černoocasý
Cymraeg: Rhostog gynffonddu
dansk: Stor kobbersneppe
Deutsch: Uferschnepfe
ދިވެހިބަސް: އެށުންގަ އިލޮޅި
Ελληνικά: Λιμόζα
English: Black-tailed Godwit
Esperanto: Nigravosta limozo
español: Aguja colinegra
eesti: Mustsaba-vigle
euskara: Kuliska buztanbeltz
فارسی: گیلان‌شاه بال‌سفید
suomi: Mustapyrstökuiri
føroyskt: Reyðspógvi
Nordfriisk: Rütjer
français: Barge à queue noire
Frysk: Skries
Gaeilge: Guilbneach Earrdhubh
Gàidhlig: Cearra ghob
galego: Mazarico rabinegro
עברית: לימוזה מצויה
hrvatski: Crnorepa Muljaca
magyar: Nagy goda
հայերեն: Մեծ իլիկակտցար
Bahasa Indonesia: Biru-laut ekor-hitam
íslenska: Jaðrakan
italiano: Pittima reale
日本語: オグロシギ
ქართული: დიდი ლია
қазақша: Үлкен шырғалақ
한국어: 흑꼬리도요
Lëtzebuergesch: Wiseschnepp
lietuvių: Griciukas
latviešu: Melnā puskuitala
македонски: Црноопашна блатарка
മലയാളം: പട്ടവാലൻ സ്നാപ്പ്
монгол: Морин цууцал - ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠰᠡᠭᠦᠯᠲᠦ ᠮᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠵᠠᠷᠠᠭ
Bahasa Melayu: Burung Kedidi Ekor Hitam
Malti: Girwiel Prim
Nedersaksies: Gruto
नेपाली: मलगुझा
Nederlands: Grutto
norsk nynorsk: Svarthalespove
norsk: Svarthalespove
Diné bizaad: Tábąąsdísí jáádnézí bitseeʼ łizhinígíí
polski: Rycyk
پنجابی: کالی پچھ آلا گاڈوٹ
português do Brasil: Macarico-galego
português: Maçarico-de-bico-direito
rumantsch: Becassina da riva
română: Sitar de mal
русский: Большой веретенник
саха тыла: Кураҕаччы
davvisámegiella: Cáhppesbaðošguškil
slovenčina: Brehár čiernochvostý
slovenščina: Črnorepi kljunač
shqip: Gjelëza e madhe bishtzezë
српски / srpski: Muljaca - Мулјача
svenska: Rödspov
Kiswahili: Msese Mkia-mweusi
தமிழ்: கருவால் மூக்கான்
ไทย: นกปากแอ่นหางดำ
Türkçe: Çamur çulluğu
українська: Грицик великий
Tiếng Việt: Choắt mỏ nhác
中文: 黑尾塍鹬

The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the godwit genus, Limosa. There are four subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest in breeding plumage and dull grey-brown winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wingbar at all times.

Its breeding range stretches from Iceland through Europe and areas of central Asia. Black-tailed godwits spend (the northern hemisphere) winter in areas as diverse as the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe and west Africa. The species breeds in fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs and uses estuaries, swamps and floods in (the northern hemisphere) winter; it is more likely to be found inland and on freshwater than the similar bar-tailed godwit. The world population is estimated to be 634,000 to 805,000 birds and is classified as Near Threatened. The black-tailed godwit is the national bird of the Netherlands.
Taxonomy

The black-tailed godwit was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Scolopax limosa.[3] It is now placed with three other godwits in the genus Limosa that was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.[4][5] The name Limosa is from Latin and means "muddy", from limus, "mud".[6] The English name "godwit" was first recorded in about 1416–17 and is believed to imitate the bird's call.[7]

Four subspecies are recognised:[5]

L. l. islandica – Brehm, 1831: the Icelandic black-tailed godwit, which breeds mostly in Iceland, but also on the Faeroe Islands, the Shetland and the Lofoten Islands. It has a shorter bill, shorter legs and more rufous coloration extending onto the belly, compared to limosa.[8]
L. l. limosa – (Linnaeus, 1758): the European black-tailed godwit, which breeds from western and central Europe to central Asia and Asiatic Russia, as far east as the Yenisei River.[9] Its head, neck and chest are pale orange.[8]
L. l. melanuroides – Gould, 1846: the Asian black-tailed godwit, which breeds in Mongolia, northern China, Siberia and Far Eastern Russia.[9] Its plumage is similar to islandica, but the bird is distinctly smaller.[8]
L. l. bohaii – Zhu, Piersma, Verkuil & Conklin, 2020:[10] assumed to breed in Russian Far East; non-breeding in northeast China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia

Description
Juvenile (with pink bill)

The black-tailed godwit is a large wader with long bill (7.5 to 12 cm (3.0 to 4.7 in) long), neck and legs. During the breeding season, the bill has a yellowish or orange-pink base and dark tip; the base is pink in winter. The legs are dark grey, brown or black. The sexes are similar,[8] but in breeding plumage, they can be separated by the male's brighter, more extensive orange breast, neck and head. In winter, adult black-tailed godwits have a uniform brown-grey breast and upperparts (in contrast to the bar-tailed godwit's streaked back). Juveniles have a pale orange wash to the neck and breast.[11]

In flight, its bold black and white wings and white rump can be seen readily. When on the ground it 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.[11][9] Black-tailed godwits are similar in body size and shape to bar-taileds, but stand taller.[8]

It measures 42 cm (17 in) from bill to tail with a wingspan of 70–82 cm (28–32 in).[8] Males weight around 280 g (9.9 oz) and females 340 g (12 oz).[12] The female is around 5% larger than the male,[8] with a bill 12–15% longer.[13]

The most common call is a strident weeka weeka weeka.

A study of black-tailed godwits in the Netherlands found a mortality rate of 37.6% in the first year of life, 32% in the second year, and 36.9% thereafter.[8]
Distribution and habitat

Black-tailed godwits have a discontinuous breeding range stretching from Iceland to the far east of Russia.[9] Their breeding habitat is river valley fens, floods at the edges of large lakes, damp steppes, raised bogs and moorlands. An important proportion of the European population now uses secondary habitats: lowland wet grasslands, coastal grazing marshes, pastures, wet areas near fishponds or sewage works, and saline lagoons. Breeding can also take place in sugar beet, potato and rye fields in the Netherlands and Germany.[14]

In spring, black-tailed godwits feed largely in grasslands, moving to muddy estuaries after breeding and for winter.[14] On African wintering grounds, swamps, floods and irrigated paddy fields can attract flocks of birds. In India, inland pools, lakes and marshes are used, and occasionally brackish lakes, tidal creeks and estuaries.[8]

Godwits from the Icelandic population winter mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, though some fly on to Spain,Portugal and perhaps Morocco.[15] Birds of the limosa subspecies from western Europe fly south to Morocco and then on to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Birds from the eastern European populations migrate to Tunisia and Algeria, then on to Mali or Chad.[16] Young birds from the European populations stay on in Africa after their first winter and return to Europe at the age of two years.[14] Asian black-tailed godwits winter in Australia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
In flight

Black-tailed godwits are much more likely to be found on inland wetlands than the more coastal bar-tailed godwit. They migrate in flocks to western Europe, Africa, south Asia and Australia. Although this species occurs in Ireland and Great Britain all year-round, they are not the same birds. The breeding birds depart in autumn, but are replaced in winter by the larger Icelandic race. These birds occasionally appear in the Aleutian Islands and, rarely, on the Atlantic coast of North America.
Behaviour
Breeding
Displaying black-tailed godwit
Limosa limosa - MHNT

Black-tailed godwits are mostly monogamous; although it was not recorded in a four-year study of 50–60 pairs, bigamy was considered "probably frequent".[8] A study of the Icelandic population showed that despite spending winter apart, pairs are reunited on their breeding grounds within an average of three days of each other. If one partner does not arrive on time, 'divorce' occurs.[17] They nest in loose colonies. Unpaired males defend a temporary territory and perform display flights to attract a mate. Several nest scrapes are made away from the courtship territory, and are defended from other godwits. Once eggs are laid, an area of 30–50 m (98–164 ft) around the nest is defended.[8] The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground, usually in short vegetation.[18] The eggs may be hidden with vegetation by the incubating parent.[8]

The single brood of three to six eggs, coloured olive-green to dark brown,[8] measure 55 mm × 37 mm (2.2 in × 1.5 in) and weigh 39 g (1.4 oz) each (of which 6% is shell).[12] Incubation lasts 22–24 days and is performed by both parents. The young are downy and precocial and are brooded while they are small and at night during colder weather. After hatching, they are led away from the nest and may move to habitats such as sewage farms, lake edges, marshes and mudflats.[8] The chicks fledge after 25–30 days.[12]

Black-tailed godwit productivity varies, positively, with spring temperatures. However, during extreme events, such as a volcanic eruption, complete breeding failures can occur.[19]
Food and feeding
Duration: 31 seconds.0:31
Manly Marina, SE Queensland, Australia

They mainly eat invertebrates, but also aquatic plants in winter and on migration. In the breeding season, prey includes beetles, flies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, mayflies, caterpillars, annelid worms and molluscs. Occasionally, fish eggs, frogspawn and tadpoles are eaten. In water, the most common feeding method is to probe vigorously, up to 36 times per minute, and often with the head completely submerged. On land, black-tailed godwits probe into soft ground and also pick prey items from the surface.[8]
Relationship to humans

In Europe, black-tailed godwits are only hunted in France,with the annual total killed estimated at 6,000 to 8,000 birds. This puts additional pressure on the western European population, and the European Commission has a management plan in place for the species in its member states.[20] In England, black-tailed godwits were formerly much prized for the table.[21] Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682) said: "[Godwits] were accounted the daintiest dish in England and I think, for the bignesse, of the biggest price." Old names included Blackwit,[21] Whelp, Yarwhelp, Shrieker, Barker and Jadreka Snipe.[22] The Icelandic name for the species is Jaðrakan.[12]
Status

There is an estimated global population of between 634,000 and 805,000 birds and estimated range of 7,180,000 square kilometres (2,770,000 sq mi).[9] In 2006 BirdLife International classified this species as Near Threatened due to a decline in numbers of around 25% in the previous 15 years.[1] It is also among the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.[23] In 2024, L. limosa was listed as Endangered under the Australian EPBC Act.[24]
References

BirdLife International (2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Limosa limosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22693150A111611637. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22693150A111611637.en.
"Limosa belgica". gbif.org. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 147.
Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode Contenant la Divisio Oiseaux en Ordres, Sections, Genres, Especes & leurs Variétés (in French and Latin). Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. Vol. 1, p. 48, Vol. 5, p. 261.
Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Sandpipers, snipes, coursers". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 227. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
"Godwit". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
BWPi: The Birds of the Western Palearctic on interactive DVD-ROM. London: BirdGuides Ltd. and Oxford University Press. 2004. ISBN 978-1-898110-39-2.
"Species factsheet: Limosa limosa". BirdLife International. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
Zhu, B.-R.; Verkuil, Y.I.; Conklin, J.R.; Yang, A.; Lei, W.; Alves, J.A.; Hassell, C.J.; Dorofeev, D.; Zhang, Z.; Piersma, T. (2021). "Discovery of a morphologically and genetically distinct population of Black-tailed Godwits in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway". Ibis. 163 (2): 448–462. doi:10.1111/ibi.12890.
Mullarney, Killian; Svensson, Lars; Zetterstrom, Dan; Grant, Peter (1999). Collins Bird Guide. London: HarperCollins. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-00-219728-1.
Robinson, R.A. "Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa". BirdFacts. British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
Vinicombe, Keith. "Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits". Articles. Birdwatch magazine. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
Tucker, Graham M.; Heath, Melanie F. (1995). Birds in Europe: Their Conservation Status. BirdLife Conservation Series. Vol. 3. Cambridge: BirdLife International. pp. 272–273. ISBN 978-0-946888-29-0.
"About the species". Icelandic Godwits. Project Jaðrakan. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
"Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)". BirdGuides.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
"Icelandic birds rely on perfect timing". BBC News website. BBC. 3 November 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
Gooders, John (1982). Collins British Birds. London: William Collins Sons & Co Ltd. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-00-219121-0.
Gunnarsson, T. G.; Jóhannesdóttir, L.; Alves, J. A.; Þórisson, B.; Gill, J. A. (2017). "Effects of spring temperature and volcanic eruptions on wader productivity" (PDF). Ibis. 159 (2): 467–471. doi:10.1111/ibi.12449.
"Management Plan for Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)" (PDF). European Commission. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
Cocker, Mark; Mabey, Richard (2005). Birds Britannica. London: Chatto & Windus. pp. 113–114. ISBN 978-0-7011-6907-7.
Greenoak, Francesca (1979). All The Birds Of The Air. Book Club Association.
"Limosa limosa: Black-tailed Godwit". AEWA birds. AEWA. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2011.

"Limosa limosa — Black-tailed Godwit". Species Profile and Threats Database. Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.