Marbled godwit
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Limosa fedoa
Weight
285-454
10.1-16
goz
g oz 
Length
42-48
16.5-18.9
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
74-78
29.1-30.7
cminch
cm inch 

The marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa ) is a large migratory shorebird in the family Scolopacidae. On average, it is the largest of the four species of godwit.

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Mo

Molluscivore

Ve

Vermivorous

Te

Terrestrial

Co

Congregatory

Co

Cooperative breeder

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Mi

Migrating

M

starts with

Appearance

The total length is 40–50 cm (16–20 in), including a large bill of 8–13 cm (3.1–5.1 in), and wingspan is 70–88 cm (28–35 in). Body mass can vary from 240 to 520 g (8.5 to 18.3 oz). The average weight of 40 males was 326 g (11.5 oz) and that of 45 females was 391 g (13.8 oz). Bill length is from 73.9 to 131 mm (2.91 to 5.16 in). Among all the members of the sandpiper family, only the curlews attain sizes that significantly exceed this species.

Show More

Adults have long blue-grey legs and a very long pink bill with a slight upward curve and dark at the tip. The long neck, breast and belly are pale brown with dark bars on the breast and flanks. The back is mottled and dark. They show cinnamon wing linings in flight.

Show Less

Distribution

Geography

Marbled godwits breed in three distinct areas with their own unique route. The vast majority occur in mid-continental North America, followed by eastern Canada and the Alaska Peninsula, USA. In addition, the largest winter ranges are the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts of the US and Mexico.

Show More

Godwits breeding in the western USA and Canada follow a route through the Utah stopover site, with a final arrival in the winter sites of Mexico and the Caribbean. Species breeding in eastern Canada migrate across the US, and stopover at sites along the Gulf of California and Mexico. Furthermore, those breeding in North and South Dakota winter in coastal Georgia. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge located at Great Salt Lake in Utah (USA), is one of the most popular stopover sites for godwits in the spring and fall.

Show Less
Marbled godwit habitat map
Marbled godwit habitat map
Marbled godwit
Attribution-ShareAlike License

Habits and Lifestyle

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

These birds forage by probing on mudflats, in marshes, or at the beach (see picture below). When the tide is out, they eat. In short grass, they may pick up insects by sight. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans, but also eat parts of aquatic plants.

Show More

When the tide is in, they roost. They often sleep by standing on one leg and tucking their bill into their body (see picture below).

Show Less

Mating Habits

INDEPENDENT AGE
15 to 26 days

They nest on the ground, usually in short grass.

Population

Conservation

Their numbers were reduced by hunting at the end of the 19th century. Although they had recovered somewhat since that time, their population has declined in recent times as suitable habitat is used for farming.

References

1. Marbled godwit Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbled_godwit
2. Marbled godwit on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22693162/93387912
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/630018

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About