A long-billed, long-legged wading bird which visits UK shores for the winter. Most usually seen in its grey-brown winter plumage, birds in spring may show their full rich chestnut breeding plumage. In flight it shows a white patch stretching from the rump up the back, narrowing to a point. It breeds in the Arctic of Scandinavia and Siberia and hundreds of thousands of them pass through the UK, on their way further south, or stop off here for the winter.
Key ID Features
Similar to Black-tailed Godwits but slightly smaller, more squat and shorter legged, easier seen when together for comparison.
Summer males have a coppery-red breast and underparts.
Winter adults are grey-brown, with paler under parts and a white stripe above the eye.
The long, dark bill is tapered and faintly upcurved, with a pinkish base.
It lacks the white wing bars and black trailing wing edges of the Black-tailed Godwit and the barred,rather than solid, tail is more visible in flight.
Overview
Scientific name: Limosa lapponica
Family: Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae)
Where to see them:
Largest numbers occur on large estuaries - the Wash, Thames, Ribble, Dee, Humber, Solway and Forth estuaries, and Lough Foyle for example.
Seen in UK:
Highest numbers are seen here between November and February, with numbers starting to build in July and August and falling off in March and April. Small numbers of non-breeding birds can be seen throughout the summer.
What they eat
Worms, snails and insects.
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Location: Titchfield Haven, Hampshire
Photographer: Tim Tapley
