Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Photo by Ragna

Identification

Breeds in the far north of Norway and Finland with small numbers in northern Sweden, and in Arctic Russia from the Kola Peninsula eastwards.

Migratory, seen on passage through Baltic and North Seas and on Atlantic coasts, rare any distance inland. Main passage periods August-October and in spring in March-April. Winters around the British Isles and from Denmark to southern Spain and the Atlantic coast of North Africa. Smaller numbers at various sites in the Mediterranean and at the head of the Persian Gulf. Non-breeders often present in winter range all year.

Vagrant north to Svalbard, Iceland and the Faroes, Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean countries, Madeira and the Azores.

Photo by postcardcv
breeding plumage

Habitat Breeds on lowland tundra, sometimes in upland areas and among trees. On passage and in winter almost always on coasts, in particular on estuaries and sheltered sandy shores.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Limosa lapponica (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Bar-tailed Godwit in the gallery

• View more images of this species on the ABID
• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages