Birds diurnal

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

A long-distance legend, the Hudsonian Godwit travels thousands of miles from the Arctic to South America. Spotting this elegant shorebird with its chestnut breast and upturned bill is a rare treat for any nature lover.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 14–17 in (36–42 cm); Wingspan: 29–31 in (74–80 cm); Weight: 5.5–13 oz (155–370 g)

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Colors

Breeding adults feature a deep chestnut-red belly with dark barring and mottled brown-and-black upperparts. Non-breeding birds are uniform grayish-brown. All have a long, bicolored bill with a pink base and black tip.

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Key Features

Long, slightly upcurved bill with a pinkish base
Deep brick-red underparts during the breeding season
Black wing linings (axillaries) visible only in flight
White rump patch contrasting with a solid black tail

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6-10 AM and 4-7 PM, though foraging is often dictated by tidal cycles in coastal areas.

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Season April-May (Spring migration) and August-October (Fall migration)

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Diet Specializes in aquatic invertebrates, including marine worms, mollusks, and crustaceans, which it finds by probing deep into soft mud or sand.

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Habitat Wet tundra during breeding; mudflats, coastal lagoons, estuaries, and flooded agricultural fields during migration.

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Behavior

The Hudsonian Godwit is a master of endurance, performing some of the longest non-stop migratory flights recorded in the bird world. Because they spend so much of their lives traveling between the Arctic and the southern tip of South America, they are often seen in a state of high-intensity refueling. They are highly social during migration, often forming large, synchronized flocks that move and feed in unison across vast mudflats.

On the ground, their behavior is characterized by a rhythmic, 'sewing machine' motion as they probe their long bills deep into the substrate. While they are generally wary of humans and prefer wide-open landscapes where they can spot threats from a distance, they can become quite focused on feeding, allowing for distant observation if the observer remains still. They rarely interact with human structures, preferring the raw edges of the natural world.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Hudsonian Godwit, placement is everything. These birds are 'edge' specialists, meaning they congregate where shallow water meets soft mud. Position your camera on a low-profile stake or a weighted base just 6 to 12 inches above the ground. Aim the lens at a receding shoreline or a temporary 'sheet water' pool in a field. Look for areas with visible 'probing' marks—clusters of small, deep holes in the mud—which indicate a recent feeding site.

Because shorebirds are constantly on the move and often feed with rapid head motions, trigger speed is critical. Set your camera to its fastest possible trigger and consider using a 'burst' mode that takes 3-5 photos in quick succession. This increases your chances of getting a sharp image of the bird's face rather than a blur of movement. If your camera allows for exposure adjustment, slightly underexpose the shot, as the bright white rump and tail patches can easily 'blow out' in the midday sun.

Timing your camera deployment with the weather is a pro-level strategy for this species. Hudsonian Godwits often 'fall out' in large numbers during migration when they encounter rain or strong headwinds. If a storm is passing through during May or September, make sure your cameras are out and active. They are most likely to visit quiet, undisturbed areas, so avoid high-traffic human paths. If you have a backyard wetland or reside near a flooded field, these are your best bets for a rare and rewarding capture.

For video, set your clips to at least 15 seconds. This bird’s most interesting behaviors—like the way it 'scythes' its bill through water or interacts with flock mates—take time to unfold. Since they have black underwing coverts that are a key ID feature, video is often the best way to capture the bird stretching its wings, which helps confirm the species identification beyond a doubt.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Hudsonian Godwit.

Marbled Godwit

Larger with cinnamon-orange wing linings and a mottled buff-colored belly instead of the Hudsonian's deep red.

Black-tailed Godwit

A rare visitor from Eurasia; it has white wing linings instead of the Hudsonian's diagnostic black ones.

Long-billed Dowitcher

Significantly smaller with a straight bill and a different 'sewing machine' feeding rhythm.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. However, their activity is heavily influenced by the tide; they often feed most intensely when the tide is falling, exposing fresh mudflats, regardless of the hour.

Hudsonian Godwits are rarely found in traditional backyards. To attract them, you would need a large property with a wetland, a mudflat, or a flooded field. Maintaining natural, chemical-free shorelines is the best way to support them during their migration stopovers.

They are carnivores that focus on invertebrates. Using their long, sensitive bills, they probe deep into the mud to find worms, small clams, snails, and aquatic insect larvae.

No, they are quite rare in suburban settings. They prefer wide-open coastal areas or large inland wetlands where they have a clear line of sight to watch for predators like hawks.

The Hudsonian is smaller and has a much darker, chestnut-colored belly during the breeding season. In flight, the Hudsonian Godwit shows distinctive black underwing feathers and a white rump, whereas the Marbled Godwit has cinnamon-colored wing linings.

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