Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758)
BA
BATGO
5340
Family: Charadriiformes > Scolopacidae
The Bar-tailed Godwit is a rather plain, but quite large wader, more or less confined to marine habitats around Britain’s coasts.
Birds arrive from late summer and on into early winter from their arctic breeding grounds, favouring low-lying coasts with a muddy or sandy substrate. Their winter dress is pale greys and browns and they have a long, very slightly upturned bill, which is pink at the base.
The Wetland Bird Survey estimates a wintering population in Britain approaching 30,000 birds with two thirds spending the winter months on The Wash in eastern England. The tideline is the best place to observe Bar-tailed Godwits feeding, and at high tide they gather in tight flocks to roost.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Bar-tailed Godwit
Identification
Bar-tailed Godwit identification is sometimes difficult. The following article may help when identifying Bar-tailed Godwit.
Identifying Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit
Godwits are large, elegant waders and relatively common in the right habitats at certain times of year. The two commonly encountered species, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, should be reasonably straightforward to separate, although their eponymous tail markings may not always be the easiest feature to use! Some birds such as juveniles or out of context lone birds can prove more problematic, however, and this workshop will help you to confidently identify both species.
SONGS AND CALLS
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Bar-tailed Godwit, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Flight call
Alarm call
Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses
Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.
Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| UK Birds of Conservation Concern | Amber listed |
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Least Concern |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Near Threatened 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | Yes |
|
Listed on the Annexes of
|
WBD(I,II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA |
POPULATION SIZE
| UK (winter) | 54 thousand (2012-17) |
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Recorded in Medieval times |
POPULATION CHANGE
| UK winter population |
-37% decrease (1996/97–2021/22) |
DISTRIBUTION
Bar-tailed Godwits winter around the coast of Britain & Ireland, on suitable low-lying shores. They are largely absent from the north and west Scotland and elsewhere where there are sections of steep cliff coastline. Largest concentrations are associated with the major British and Irish estuaries, plus the low-lying shorelines of Northumberland, the Outer Hebrides and Orkney.
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 546 |
| % occupied in winter | 18 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
Although there have been many winter-range gains in Britain since the 1980s, most are in marginal low-density areas such as Shetland, west Scotland, west Ireland, Wales and southwest England and may correspond to only small changes in the number of birds.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +25.2% |
SEASONALITY
Although mostly a winter visitor, some Bar-tailed Godwits remain in summer on larger estuaries and there is a pronounced peak in autumn migration.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Bar-tailed Godwit, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
|
Number of Broods
|
1 |
|
Egg Size
|
54×37 mm Weight = 37 g (of which 5% is shell) |
SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report
|
Maximum Age from Ringing
|
33 years 11 months 13 days (set in 2008)
|
|
Typical Lifespan
|
5 years with breeding typically at 2 year |
|
Adult Survival
|
0.715±0.079
|
BIOMETRICS
|
Wing Length
|
Adults | 219.2±9 | Range 205–235mm, N=2100 |
| Juveniles | 212.6±8.7 | Range 200-226mm, N=582 | |
| Males | 212.5±7.7 | Range 199–224mm, N=109 | |
| Females | 225.7±7.3 | Range 212–236mm, N=123 |
|
Body Weight
|
Adults | 294±35.8 | Range 244–360g, N=2008 |
| Juveniles | 278±44 | Range 210–359g, N=560 | |
| Males | 278±26.6 | Range 240–322g, N=93 | |
| Females | 331±37.4 | Range 270–380g, N=105 |
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Ring size
|
D2 or E* |
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: BA | 5-letter code: BATGO | Euring: 5340 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Research
Interpretation and scientific publications about Bar-tailed Godwit from BTO scientists.
PUBLICATIONS (2)
Consequences of population change for local abundance and site occupancy of wintering waterbirds
Wavering Waterbirds
Protected sites are assigned based on population statistics for vulnerable and endangered species. This new study using WeBS data shows that changes in population size can affect local abundance, and thus influence whether or not key targets are met for site protection.
Contrasting habitat use between and within Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew wintering on the Wash, England
Adjacent habitats vital for intertidal waders
A new study has revealed contrasting habitat use between and within Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlews wintering on the Wash.
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Use of Willapa Bay, Washington, by shorebirds and waterfowl after Spartina control efforts
- Is the density of redshank Tringa totanus nesting on saltmarshes in Great Britain declining due to changes in grazing management?
- Managed realignment in the UK - the first 5 years of colonization by birds
Read more studies about Bar-tailed Godwit on Conservation Evidence >
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