Godwit

Godwits
Bar-tailed Godwit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family†: Scolopacidae
Genera Limosa
† see also: wader

The godwits and their allies are a group of large, long-billed, long-legged and strongly migratory wading birds. They form large flocks on coasts and estuaries in winter.

They can be distinguished from the related curlews by their straight or slightly upturned bills, and from the dowitchers by their longer legs. The winter plumages are fairly drab, but three species have reddish underparts when breeding. The females are appreciably larger than the males.

• Family: Scolopacidae (part)
  • Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa
  • Hudsonian Godwit, Limosa haemastica
  • Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
  • Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa