Birds diurnal

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Meet the world's most elite long-distance athlete. The Bar-tailed Godwit performs mind-boggling non-stop flights across entire oceans, transforming from a modest grey wader into a vibrant, brick-red marvel during the breeding season.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 37–41 cm (14.5–16 in); Wingspan: 70–80 cm (27.5–31.5 in); Weight: 230–450 g (8–16 oz)

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Colors

Breeding males feature a stunning deep brick-red neck and underparts. Females and non-breeding birds are more muted, with mottled grey-brown upperparts and pale bellies. Both show a distinctive brown-and-white barred tail.

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Key Features

Long, bicolored bill that curves slightly upward
Distinctive brown and white barring on the tail
Long, dark blue-grey legs
No white wing-bars visible during flight

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours Activity is tide-dependent; most active during low tide and 2 hours before/after high tide.

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Season September to March in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia/NZ); May to August in Northern breeding grounds.

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Diet Primarily carnivorous, they eat bristle-worms, shellfish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. They use their sensitive, long bills to probe deep into the mud, often detecting prey by touch rather than sight.

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Habitat Coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches during the non-breeding season; Arctic tundra and marshy scrub during the breeding season.

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Behavior

The Bar-tailed Godwit is the undisputed marathon champion of the bird world, famous for its record-breaking non-stop migrations across the Pacific Ocean. These birds are highly social and are almost always found in large, active flocks, particularly when roosting or feeding on coastal mudflats. Their behavior is dictated almost entirely by the rhythm of the tides; as the water recedes, they spread out across the mud to feed, and as the tide rises, they gather in dense 'roosts' on higher ground or salt marshes.

When foraging, they display a rhythmic, 'sewing machine' probing motion, thrusting their long bills deep into the sediment to find hidden prey. While they are generally wary of humans, they can become somewhat accustomed to people in busy coastal recreation areas, provided they are given enough space to feed without being flushed into flight, which wastes precious energy needed for their long journeys.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Bar-tailed Godwit on camera, you must understand the tidal clock. Position your camera at the edge of a known high-tide roosting site or on the upper reaches of an estuary mudflat just as the tide begins to push the birds toward the shore. Because these birds are low-profile waders, a ground-level perspective is essential. Use a low-profile mount or a sand-bag to stabilize your camera just a few inches above the mud; this 'worm’s-eye view' creates a professional, intimate look that highlights the bird’s impressive bill and plumage.

Since these environments are often harsh, salt-spray and moisture are your biggest enemies. Always use a weather-sealed camera housing and, if possible, a secondary protective dry-box. A fast trigger speed is vital because Godwits move their heads rapidly while probing for food. Set your camera to a multi-shot burst mode (3-5 photos per trigger) to ensure at least one shot captures the bird with its head up and eyes in focus rather than buried in the silt.

Lighting on open mudflats can be extremely harsh. Aim to position your camera facing away from the sun (North-facing in the Southern Hemisphere, South-facing in the Northern) to avoid heavy silhouetting. Early morning or late afternoon light—the 'golden hour'—provides the best contrast to bring out the subtle barring on their tails and the rich reds of a breeding male. Avoid using bait, as these are specialized feeders; instead, focus on 'bottleneck' locations where the rising tide naturally forces the birds into a smaller area near your lens.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bar-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit

Has a solid black tail tip and bold white wing bars, whereas the Bar-tailed has a fully barred tail and plain wings.

Whimbrel

Similar size but has a strongly down-curved bill and distinct dark stripes on its crown, unlike the Godwit's slightly up-curved bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike many birds that follow a strict daylight schedule, Bar-tailed Godwits are 'tide-active.' They are most busy foraging whenever the mudflats are exposed, which can occur at any time of day, though they generally roost and rest during the highest tides and at night.

You generally cannot attract Bar-tailed Godwits to a standard inland garden. They are coastal specialists. However, if you live on a coastal property with a private beach or estuary frontage, maintaining a natural, chemical-free shoreline with native salt-marsh vegetation can encourage them to visit your waterfront.

Their diet consists mainly of marine invertebrates. They use their long bills to reach deep-dwelling bristle-worms (polychaetes), small crabs, and mollusks hidden beneath the surface of the mud.

They are common only in suburban areas that are immediately adjacent to large estuaries, lagoons, or coastal mudflats. They are frequently seen near coastal walking tracks and suburban boat ramps in parts of Australia and New Zealand during the southern summer.

The easiest way is to look at the tail and wings. The Bar-tailed Godwit has a tail with fine brown and white stripes (bars) and no white bars on its wings during flight. The Black-tailed Godwit has a solid black tail band and very bold white stripes across its wings.

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