Black-tailed Godwit

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

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 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA, NERC (41)

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).

UK winter population

+138% increase (1996/97–2021/22)

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.

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.

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

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	23 years 3 months 21 days (set in 2001)
Typical Lifespan	18 years with breeding typically at 2 year
Adult Survival	0.94±0.02

Wing Length	Adults	215.6±8.4 | Range 201–231mm, N=59
	Juveniles	215.4±10.8 | Range 202-229mm, N=78

Body Weight	Adults	299±39.7 | Range 240–360g, N=48
	Juveniles	282±36.8 | Range 218–345g, N=59

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	E or D2 (pulli E)
Field Codes	2-letter: BW | 5-letter code: BLTGO | Euring: 5320

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

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).