Bar-tailed Godwit  |  

Limosa lapponica

The Bar-tailed Godwit is a large wader and member of the Tringinae family. The bird has a length around 37–39 cm, a wingspan of 62–75 cm and a weight between 250–450 g. The bird has a long neck with a very long upturned bill. The bill is characterized by a dark tip and pinkish base. The Bar-tailed Godwit is slightly larger and stockier than the Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, with a shorter neck and legs, steeper forehead, and a more upturned and pointed bill. All plumages have a uniform upper pattern, with a dark back and upper rump. It is distinguishable from other Godwits by the dark barring on the lower white rump, uppertail and lining of the underwing. The sexes differ, with females being larger with longer bills than males and a duller breeding plumage. Both sexes exhibit marked variation in plumages, with juveniles also having distinct plumages (Marchant & Higgins 1993).

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

Expand all Close all
  • Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Species Profile and Threats Database, Limosa lapponica

    Threats Top Global threatsThere are a number of threats that affect migratory shorebirds in the East Asian Australasian Flyway.

    Global warming and associated changes in sea level are likely to have a long term impact on the breeding; staging and non breeding grounds of migratory waders (Harding et al. 2007).