Godwit

Lore & Background

Godwits are large, long-legged waders with notably long bills, which they use to probe deep into sand and mud to extract aquatic worms and molluscs. They are strongly migratory, breeding in northern climates during summer and moving to winter ranges in the south, where they gather in flocks in areas with plentiful food, particularly along tidal shorelines. The birds are named for the genus *Limosa*, a Latin term meaning "muddy," derived from *limus* ("mud"). The English name "godwit" dates back to around 1416–17 and is thought to imitate the bird's call. Four living species belong to this genus, along with several fossil species from the Late Miocene, Early Pliocene, and Late Eocene periods. Godwits can be told apart from curlews by their straight or slightly upturned bills, and from dowitchers by their longer legs. Their winter plumage is generally dull, but three species develop reddish underparts during the breeding season. Females are noticeably larger than males. Historically, godwits were considered a delicacy in the British Isles; Sir Thomas Browne wrote around 1682 that they were regarded as the finest dish in England. Notable for extreme endurance, a female bar-tailed godwit once completed a non-stop flight of 29,000 km, and in 2020 a male of the same species set a record for avian non-stop flight during its migration from Alaska to New Zealand. In October 2022, a five-month-old male bar-tailed godwit was tracked flying non-stop from Alaska to Tasmania over 11 days.

Reader's Guide

Godwits are a group of four large, long-billed, long-legged, and strongly migratory waders belonging to the genus *Limosa*. Their elongated bills enable them to probe deeply into sand to extract aquatic worms and molluscs. During winter, they congregate in flocks where food is abundant, frequenting tidal shorelines. They breed in northern climates during summer and migrate south for the winter. The genus name *Limosa* is derived from the Latin for "muddy," referencing their habitat, while the English name "godwit," first recorded around 1416–17, is thought to imitate the bird's call. Godwits can be distinguished from curlews by their straight or slightly upturned bills, and from dowitchers by their longer legs. Winter plumage is generally drab, but three species develop reddish underparts during breeding. Females are noticeably larger than males. The genus was introduced by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, with the black-tailed godwit as the type species. Godwits were once considered a delicacy in the British Isles; Sir Thomas Browne noted around 1682 that they were accounted the daintiest dish in England. The bar-tailed godwit is particularly notable for its extreme migratory feats: a female once flew a total of 29,000 km, and in 2020 a male set a record for non-stop avian flight during its migration from Alaska to New Zealand. In October 2022, a five-month-old male bar-tailed godwit was tracked from Alaska to Tasmania, completing the journey in 11 days. Fossil species, including *Limosa vanrossemi* (Late Miocene of California), *Limosa lacrimosa* (Early Pliocene of Mongolia), and the problematic *Limosa gypsorum* (Late Eocene of France), provide evolutionary context, though the latter may represent a curlew or rail rather than a true godwit.

Did You Know?

• The genus name Limosa is from Latin and means 'muddy', from limus, 'mud'.