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Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Scolopacidae
BTO Codes:
BW , BLTGO
EURING No:
5320
Number in Britain:
48 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
2 Concern, most in Europe; Vulnerable
Global:
Near Threatened
( Details )
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
limosa (B), islandica (BW) recorded in Britain (of 3 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
42 cm
Wingspan:
76 cm
Weight:
M: 280 g F: 340 g
Scientific name from:
L.: limus =mud
World Distribution:
BREEDS: n Europe & n Asia, WINTERS: w&s Europe, s Asia south to s Africa & Australia
Habitat:
Marshy grassland & steppe, on migration mudflats
Diet:
Invertebrates, also some plant material, located by touch and sight
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
44 to 52 pairs
in 1998-02
Winter:
15 thousand individuals
in 1994-99
Passage:
12000 individuals
 
First Record:
14th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
First Breeding Record:
East Anglia (after extinct 1885) 1952
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
86 to 110 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I), WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results:
Wetland Bird Survey Alerts
Operation Godwit
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
55 x 37 mm
Egg Weight:
39.0 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
2
Clutch Size:
4 eggs
Incubation:
22 - 24 days
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
25 - 30 days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Does not breed in Britain, or too few Nest Records
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
163
Adult Survival:
0.9
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
2
years
Typical Lifespan:
11
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
23yr3m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E or D2 (pulli E)
Wing Length
Adult:
215.6 ± 8.4
Range
201 - 231 mm, N =59
Juvenile:
215.4 ± 10.8
202 - 229 mm, N =78
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
298.5 ± 39.67
Range
240.0 - 360.0 g , N =48
Juvenile:
282.3 ± 36.85
218.0 - 345.0 g , N =59
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Cearra-ghob
Welsh:
Rhostog Gynffonddu
Danish:
Stor kobbersneppe
Dutch:
Grutto
Finnish:
Mustapyrstökuiri
French:
Barge à queue noire
German:
Uferschnepfe
Hungarian:
Nagy goda
Icelandic:
Jaðrakan
Irish:
Guilbneach Earrdhubh
Italian:
Pittima reale
Norwegian:
Svarthalespove
Polish:
Rycyk
Portuguese:
Maçarico-de-bico-direito
Spanish:
Aguja colinegra
Swedish:
Rödspov
Local Names: Blackwit
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
No books written recently
See Also:
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus
BirdFacts home | BTO Home Email: birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
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