The family Scolopacidae was first described (as Scolopacea) by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, (October 22, 1783 – September 18, 1840), a zoologist, botanist, writer and polyglot, in the year 1815. The Scolopacidae comprises fifteen genera.
The genus Limosa was first described by Mathurin Jacques Brisson (30 April 1723 – 23 June 1806), a French zoologist and natural philosopher, in the year 1760. The type species is Scolopax limosa (Linnaeus, 1758).
The genus Limosa comprises four extant species, viz., Limosa limosa, Limosa haemastica, Limosa lapponica and Limosa fedoa. The species Limosa lapponica was introduced (as Scolopax lapponica) by Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist, in the year 1758.
The species Limosa lapponica is polytypic and comprises five subspecies, viz., L. l. lapponica, L. l. taymyrensis, L. l. menzbieri, L. l. anadyrensis and L. l. baueri.
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:
Limosa lapponica
Species:
L. lapponica
Genus:
Limosa
Subfamily:
-
Family:
Scolopacidae
Order:
Charadriiformes
Class:
Aves
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia
1.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica 293 Photo by Tokumi Ohsaka
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2.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica Photo by Ron Knight
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4.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica Photo by Juan Emilio
5.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica Photo by Juan Emilio
6.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica Photo by Juan Emilio
7.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica Photo by Matthias Barby
8.Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica Photo by Panthus
1.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki-oosorihashishigi.jpg (cropped)
Author: Tokumi Ohsaka | License: Public domain
2.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bar-tailed_Godwit_(Limosa_lapponica).jpg (cropped)
Author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 1/7/18
3.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limosa_lapponica_ar.JPG (cropped)
Author: Arnstein Rønning | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 1/7/18
4.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aguja_colipinta_(Limosa_lapponica)_(6340717117).jpg (cropped)
Author: Juan Emilio | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/7/18
5.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aguja_colipinta_(Limosa_lapponica)_(5165354982).jpg (cropped)
Author: Juan Emilio | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/7/18
6.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aguja_colipinta_(Limosa_lapponica)_(4198420186).jpg (cropped)
Author: Juan Emilio | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 1/7/18
7.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limosa_lapponica_1.JPG (cropped)
Author: Matthias Barby | License: CC BY 3.0 as on 1/7/18
8.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bar-tailed_godwit_feeding_on_tidal_mudflats_near_Toondah_Harbour_in_Moreton_Bay.JPG (cropped)
Author: Panthus | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 as on 1/7/18
9.Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limosa_lapponica_MHNT.jpg (cropped)
Author: Didier Descouens | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 as on 1/7/18
Current topic in Birds of India: Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica photos.
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The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) belongs to the family of snipes and godwits, the Scolopacidae.
The bar-tailed godwit species is distributed in northern Europe and Asia, western Alaska, Africa, Persian Gulf, India, southeast Asia, China and Australia. These godwit species breed in the Arctic region. These godwits are polytypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a medium-sized godwit, measuring 35 to 40 cm in length. The males weigh 200 to 400 grams and the females weigh 260 to 630 grams. The wingspan is 70 to 80 cm. The female is larger, paler and has longer bill.
In breeding plumage, the neck, breast and belly are brick red. In non-breeding plumage the bar-tailed godwit appear pale creamy brown with heavy mottling on the back and the wings. The whitish lower rump and the uppertail have dark barring.
The long bill is slightly upturned. The bill is characterized by a dark tip and pinkish base. The irises are dark brown. The legs are bluish gray. The godwit call is a continuous "chip.. chip.. chipp" sound.
1.Birds of India - Image of Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica by Ron Knight
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2.Indian birds - Picture of Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica by Tokumi Ohsaka
3.Birds of India - Photo of Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica by Arnstein Rønning
Origin, geographical range and distribution
The bar-tailed godwit species is distributed in northernmost Asia, western Alaska, northernmost Europe, western Europe, Africa, Arabian peninsula, Persian Gulf, Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, China, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
In India, wintering bar-tailed godwit species are distributed in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Tripura and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The bar-tailed godwit nominate subspecies is distributed in Scandinavian Peninsula, Finland, Karelia, Kola Peninsula and west Yamal (Russia). It winters in North Sea, west Iberia and west coast of Africa.
The bar-tailed godwit subspecies L. l. anadyrensis breeds in east Siberia and winters in Australia and New Zealand. The subspecies L. l. baueri breeds in northeast Siberia and northwest Alaska. It winters in China, southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
The bar-tailed godwit subspecies L. l. menzbieri breeds in north Siberia and winters in southeast Asia and northwest Australia. The subspecies L. l. taymyrensis breeds in northwest Siberia and winters in Africa, Persian Gulf and India.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of the bar-tailed godwit species in Australia are, Eighty Mile Beach, Roebuck Bay, Great Sandy Strait, Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage.
The IBA of the bar-tailed godwit species in Russia are, Seskar island, Valley of headwaters of the river Schuchya, Basins of the Schuchya and Khadytayakha rivers, Malakchan bay, Moroshechnaya River, Ola lagoon, Perevolochny bay and Rekinninskaya bay.
Some of the IBA of the bar-tailed godwit species in United Kingdom are, Chichester and Langstone Harbours, West Coast of Benbecula, The Wash, The Swale, Morecambe Bay, Mid-Essex Coast, Lindisfarne, Humber Estuary, Firth of tay, Hamford Water and North Norfolk Coast.
The IBA of the bar-tailed godwit species in Norway are, Varanger Peninsula, Altaelvmunningen, Reisa, Inner Porsangerfjord, Øvre Anárjohka and Neiden- & Munkefjord. The IBA of these godwits in USA are, Egegik Bay and Nelson Lagoon-Mud Bay.
Ecosystem and habitat
These bar-tailed godwit species do not normally occur in forest. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 440 meters.
The natural ecosystems and habitats of these bar-tailed godwit species include, tundra grasslands, tundra shrublands, wet river vallies, coastal marine lakes, freshwater lakes, intertidal mud flats, marshes, coral reefs, estuaries and freshwater lakes.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of the bar-tailed godwit consists mainly of invertebrates. Molluscs, crustaceans, polychaete worms, insects and insect larvae, spiders and earthworms are their primary food.
The bar-tailed godwit also feed on tadpoles, small fish, fruits, seeds, leaves and other plant matter. These godwits forage near the edge of water or in shallow water by probing the mud with their long sensitive bill.
Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these bar-tailed godwit species is from May to July in the Arctic summer of most of their breeding range. They are monogamous. Some females exhibit polyandrous behavior.
The bar-tailed godwit nesting sites are located in inland Arctic habitats, including dry positions in shrub tundra, montane tundra and hummocks. The nests are usually shallow scrapes in the ground, lined with lichen or plant material.
The clutch usually consists of two to five eggs. Both of the bar-tailed godwit parents take turns to incubate eggs. The chicks hatch out after 20-21 days of incubation.
Migration and movement patterns
These bar-tailed godwit species are migratory birds, breeding in northernmost Asia, Europe and Alaska and flying south for wintering.
The bar-tailed godwits leave the breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska in mid-July onwards for wintering. The return migration commences in March and the godwits reach their breeding grounds in May. Several birds may stay back in their wintering range.
Distribution: northernmost Asia, western Alaska, northernmost Europe, western Europe, Africa, Arabian peninsula, Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Papua new guinea
Diet and feeding habits: insects, molluscs, worms, crustaceans, small fish, seeds, berries, plant matter
IUCN status listing: Near Threatened (NT)
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is estimated to number 1,099,000 to 1,149,000 individual birds. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be decreasing.
In most of its range, this godwit species is reported to be rare and locally uncommon. The generation length is 8.9 years. Its distribution size is about 9,050,000 sq.km.
Habitat alteration and destruction, pollution, hunting, disturbance from human activities, climate change and severe weather are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this godwit species.
IUCN and CITES status
The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is approaching the thresholds for being Vulnerable under the range size criterion, under the population trend criterion and under the population size criterion.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the godwit species and has listed it as "Near Threatened".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica).
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Limosa lapponica
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Scolopacidae
Subfamily:
-
Genus:
Limosa
Species:
L. lapponica
Binomial name:
Limosa lapponica
IUCN status listing:
Near Threatened
The five recognized subspecies of the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) are: L. l. lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758), L. l. taymyrensis Engelmoer & Roselaar, 1998, L. l. anadyrensis Engelmoer & Roselaar, 1998, L. l. menzbieri Portenko, 1936 and L. l. baueri J. F. Naumann, 1836.
1.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bar-tailed_Godwit_(Limosa_lapponica).jpg (cropped)
Photo author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 1/7/18
2.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki-oosorihashishigi.jpg (cropped)
Photo author: Tokumi Ohsaka | License: Public domain
3.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limosa_lapponica_ar.JPG (cropped)
Photo author: Arnstein Rønning | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 1/7/18
Current topic in Birds of India: Bar-tailed godwit - Limosa lapponica.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.
The family Scolopacidae was first introduced (as Scolopacea) by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (October 22, 1783 – September 18, 1840), a zoologist, botanist, writer and polyglot, in the year 1815. The family Scolopacidae comprises 15 genera.
The genus Limosa was first described by Mathurin Jacques Brisson (30 April 1723 – 23 June 1806), a French zoologist and natural philosopher, in the year 1760. The genus Limosa comprises four species. The type species of this genus is Scolopax limosa (Limosa limosa).
The species Limosa limosa was first described by Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist in the year 1758. It is a polytypic species and comprises three subspecies, viz., Limosa limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758), Limosa limosa islandica Brehm, 1831 and Limosa limosa melanuroides Gould, 1846.
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:
Limosa limosa
Species:
L. limosa
Genus:
Limosa
Subfamily:
-
Family:
Scolopacidae
Order:
Charadriiformes
Class:
Aves
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia
1.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa 336 Photo by Frebeck
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2.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by Frank Vassen
3.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by Frebeck
4.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by Frank Vassen
5.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by ARIJIT MONDAL
6.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by Kaiserm123
7.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by Alpsdake
8.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa egg Photo by Didier Descouens
9.Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa Photo by Charlesjsharp
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) belongs to the family of snipes and godwits, the Scolopacidae.
The black-tailed godwit species is distributed in the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia. These godwit species are listed by IUCN as "Near Threatened". These godwits are polytypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a fairly large godwit, measuring 35 to 45 cm in length. These birds are sexually dimorphic, the male weighs 160 to 440 grams and the female weighs 250 to 500 grams.
The black-tailed godwit has dull pink-chestnut breast, upper belly, neck and head during summer. The wintering birds have pale grayish brown plumage. There is a pale supercilium and a dark lore. There is dark brown barring on the back and wings. The tail is black.
The godwit bill is long and straight. It is orange yellow near the base and blackish towards the distal end. In wintering birds, the base of the bill is pinkish. The irises are dark. The legs are long and dark gray in color. The feet project well beyond tail in flight.
In flight, the characteristic white wing-bar, white rump and blackish tail are clearly seen. The godwit call is a strident "weeka..weeka..weeka" or subdued, plaintive "kip..kip..kip" or "chut..chut..chut" sound.
1.Birds of India - Image of Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa by Frank Vassen
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2.Indian birds - Picture of Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa by Frebeck
3.Birds of India - Photo of Black-tailed godwit - Limosa limosa by Frebeck
Origin, geographical range and distribution
The black-tailed godwit species is distributed in Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The black-tailed godwit nominate subspecies L. l. limosa is distributed in west and central Europe and western Russia. This subspecies winters in Mediterranean region, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan and western India.
The black-tailed godwit subspecies L. l. islandica is distributed in Iceland, Faroe Islands (Denmark), Shetland Islands (UK) and Lofoten Islands (Norway). This godwit subspecies winters in Ireland, Britain, western France, Spain and Portugal.
The godwit subspecies L. l. melanuroides is distributed in central Russia, east Mongolia, northeast China and northeast Russia. This subspecies winters in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and Taiwan.
In India, wintering black-tailed godwits are distributed in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Vagrant black-tailed godwits have been observed in United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Congo, Malawi, Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Greenland (Denmark) and New Zealand.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these black-tailed godwit species in India are, Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, Veeranam Lake,
Chilika Lake, Kunthur - Kallur Lakes, Kaj Lake and Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
The IBA of these black-tailed godwit species in Iceland are, Skúmsstadavatn, Ósasvædi Ölfusár, Hólmarnir and Austara Eylendid. The IBA in China are, Coastal mudflat of Tianjin, Shuangtai Estuary, Yalu Jiang Estuary and Kaidu River Valley.
Some of the IBA of these black-tailed godwit species in Russia are, Khayryuzova bay, Malakchan bay, Moroshechnaya River, Nevskoye Lake, Chonta, Bylinskaya, Ubinskoye Lake, Kurtan Lake. Chernoye Lake, Ul'skoye bog, Tsninski Forest and Manychstroi area.
Ecosystem and habitat
These black-tailed godwit species do not normally occur in forest. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 1000 meters.
The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these godwit species include agricultural lands, pasture lands and urban areas.
The natural ecosystems and habitats of these black-tailed godwit species include, wetlands, estuaries, freshwater lakes, lagoons, marine lakes, tide pools, mudflats, marshes, and temperate grasslands.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of these black-tailed godwit consists mainly of insects.
Insects, insect larvae, chironomid larvae, beetles, grasshoppers, locust, cicadas, crickets, spiders, maggots, annelid and polychaete worms, molluscs and crustaceans are their primary food.
These godwits also feed on seeds, grains and berries. These species forage on the ground and in shallow water, picking insects and other small prey. The bill is very sensitive and is used for probing mud for locating prey.
Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these black-tailed godwit species is from April to June in most of their breeding range. They breed in loose colonies. These birds are monogamous. Both of the pair build their nest.
The nesting sites of the black-tailed godwit include grounds with high grass and soft soil, pasturelands, hayfields, wet grasslands, grassy marshlands, steppes and occasionally sandy areas.
The black-tailed godwit nest is a shallow scrape lined with thick layer of stem grass, leaves and other plant material. The clutch may contain three to six olive-green eggs with brown mottling. The breeding pair take turns to incubate the eggs for 23-25 days. The godwit chicks may fledge 25-30 days after hatching.
Migration and movement patterns
These black-tailed godwit species are fully migrant birds.
Migratory black-tailed godwit populations occur in Iceland, central and northern Europe, central and northwest Asia, Mongolia, northern China and northeast Russia. They migrate on a broad front and make long-distance southward flights during July and October for wintering.
The wintering populations of black-tailed godwit make return migration to the breeding grounds from February to April. Many one-year old birds may remain in their wintering range during the summer. Non-breeding birds in the breeding range may make nomadic feeding movements.
Black-tailed godwit - Quick Facts
Scientific name: Limosa limosa
Species author: (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms/Protonym: Scolopax Limosa Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Scolopacidae › Charadriiformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
The global population size of the black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is estimated to be around 614,000 to 809,000 individual birds. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be declining.
Throughout its range, this godwit species is reported to be scarce to locally common. The generation length is 8.6 years. Its distribution size is about 30,300,000 sq.km.
Habitat alteration and destruction, the draining of wetlands for expansion of agriculture, expanding aquaculture activities and livestock farming and ranching are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this godwit species.
IUCN and CITES status
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is approaching the thresholds for being Vulnerable under the range size criterion, under the population trend criterion and under the population size criterion.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the godwit species and has listed it as "Near Threatened".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa).
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Limosa limosa
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Scolopacidae
Subfamily:
-
Genus:
Limosa
Species:
L. limosa
Binomial name:
Limosa limosa
IUCN status listing:
Near Threatened
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is closely related to Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) and was previously considered conspecific to L. haemastica.
The three recognized subspecies of black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) are: Limosa limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758), Limosa limosa islandica C. L. Brehm, 1831 and Limosa limosa melanuroides (eastern black tailed godwit) Gould, 1846.
