Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa

Introduction

This long-legged wader is more often found near freshwater than its maritime cousin, the Bar-tailed Godwit, and has plainer plumage.

A very scarce breeder, the Black-tailed Godwit is encountered in greatest numbers in the spring and autumn months as birds move south from their breeding grounds in Iceland to wintering areas in Britain, Ireland, France and Portugal. Colour-ringing has shown that whilst individuals tend to winter in the same location each year, members of each pair often winter in different countries.

While only the smallest handful of pairs now breed in Britain, WeBS counts show the no-breeding population increasingly rapidly as a result of agricultural changes in Iceland, where most of our birds come from.

Key Stats

Common

298.5g

BTO Records

350k records

Publications

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

53 pairs

-7% contraction

No data

41k

171.4% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Black-tailed Godwit

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Godwits

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Black-tailed Godwit, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Call:

Alarm call:

Other:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern

Red listed

Species of European Conservation Concern

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Near Threatened

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Yes

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

WCA(I), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA, NERC (41)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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UK (breeding)

53 pairs (2013â€“17)

Source

UK (winter)

41 thousand (2012-17)

Source

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Recorded in Medieval times

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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The Black-tailed Godwit breeding in the UK are mostly from the limosa subspecies breeding in East Anglia, with a much smaller number of pairs from the islandica subspecies also breeding in Scotland. During thefive-year period 2013–17, a mean of 46 pairs of limosa and seven pairs of islandica were recorded (RBBP data; APEP4). The numbers and range of limosa have declined over the last fifty years (Balmer et al. 2013). Numbers have remained very low but relatively stable in the 25 years to 2019, and in the five-year period 2015–2019, there was a mean of 53 breeding pairs of Black-tailed Godwits (both subspecies) (Eaton et al. 2021). However, there have recently been declines in the limosa popualtion at its main site, from 48 pairs in 2006 to 37 pairs in 2014 (Verhoeven et al. 2021).

Distribution

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Most Black-tailed Godwits wintering in Britain & Ireland originate from the icelandica subspecies that breeds in Iceland. In winter they are found around coastlines with soft muddy shorelines and with nearby wet grasslands. A significant number also winter around inland wetland grassland systems such as the Ouse Washes. In contrast, the small breeding population is mostly of the nominate limosa subspecies. The Ouse and Nene Washes in East Anglia remain the centre of the British breeding population. Outlying breeding records in northern Scotland may relate to extralimital icelandica breeders.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

1.3%

No. occupied in winter

467

% occupied in winter

15%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter distribution <br/> 2007/08–10/11 — Winter distribution
2007/08–10/11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding distribution <br/> 2008–11 — Breeding distribution
2008–11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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The Icelandic breeding population has undergone a sustained breeding population increase, resulting in a long-term increase in the numbers wintering in Britain and Ireland and a concurrent range expansion.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

-7 %

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

171.4 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have change through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading shows squares occupied in all periods.

Winter distribution change <br/> from 1981–84 to 2007–11 — Winter distribution change
from 1981–84 to 2007–11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding distribution change <br/> from 1968–72 to 2008–11 — Breeding distribution change
from 1968–72 to 2008–11

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Black-tailed Godwits are recorded throughout the year with a strong peak in autumn migration.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Black-tailed Godwit movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Black-tailed Godwit, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

55x37 mm

Mass (% shell)

39g (6%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

4 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

3-5 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Male + Female

Typical duration

22-24 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Precocial, downy

Typical duration

25-30 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

lifespan

Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age

18 years with breeding typically at 2 years

Source

Maximum age from a ringed bird

23 years, 3 months, 21 days (set in 2001)

Source

Survival of adults

All adults

0.94±0.02

Source

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Wing length

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

215.4±10.8 mm

(202-229 mm, N=78)

All adults

215.6±8.4 mm

(201-231 mm, N=59)

Body weight

Average ±1 std deviation; 5th and 95th percentiles and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

282.3±36.8 g

(218-345 g , N=59)

All adults

298.5±39.7 g

(240-360 g , N=48)

Ring Size

E or D2 (pulli E)

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Black-tailed Godwit

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Scientific name: Limosa limosa
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: BW
BTO 5-letter code: BLTGO
Euring code number: 5320

Alternate species names

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Catalan: tètol cuanegre
Czech: brehouš cernoocasý
Danish: Stor Kobbersneppe
Dutch: Grutto
Estonian: mustsaba-vigle
Finnish: mustapyrstökuiri
French: Barge à queue noire
Gaelic: Cearra-ghob

German: Uferschnepfe
Hungarian: nagy goda
Icelandic: Jaðrakan
Irish: Guilbneach Earrdhubh
Italian: Pittima reale
Latvian: melna puskuitala
Lithuanian: paprastasis griciukas
Norwegian: Svarthalespove

Polish: rycyk
Portuguese: milherango
Slovak: brehár ciernochvostý
Slovenian: crnorepi kljunac
Spanish: Aguja colinegra
Swedish: rödspov
Welsh: Rhostog Gynffonddu

English folkname(s): Blackwit, Red Godwit

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Black-tailed Godwit from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

The limosa subspecies is also declining in continental Europe and there is good evidence that the main driver of the declines is poor productivity due to agricultural intensification (Gill et al. 2007). Recent declines ofthe limosa population have been attributed to low breeding productivity resulting from an increase in predation pressure (Verhoeven et al. 2021). Intensive conservation efforts are being undertaken to manage the species at its remaining sites including 'head-starting', i.e. taking eggs and raising the resulting young in captivity before releasing them in the wild, in order to increase breeding productivity (Eaton et al. 2021; see also Project Godwit website for further info; https://projectgodwit.org.uk).

Publications (3)

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Waterbirds in the UK 2022/23

It provides a single, comprehensive source of information on the current status and distribution of waterbirds in the UK for those interested in the conservation of the populations of these species ...

25.04.24

Reports Waterbirds in the UK

Download PDF

Consequences of population change for local abundance and site occupancy of wintering waterbirds

Protected sites for birds are typically designated based on the site’s importance for the species that use it. For example, sites may be selected as Special Protection Areas (under the European Union ...

20.09.17

Papers

Black-tailed Godwits on the Wash

01.01.93

Papers

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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If you wish to cite particular content in this page (e.g. a specific value) it is best to use the original sources as linked in the page. For a more general citation of the whole page please use: BTO (20XX) BirdFacts Species: profiles of birds occurring in the United Kingdom. BTO, Thetford (www.bto.org/birdfacts, accessed on xx/xx/xxxx).

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