Bird guideBlack-tailed Godwit

Gregarious medium-sized wader with a long, slightly uptilted bill.

⚠️Endangered

At a glance

FamilySandpipers and Allies
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from October to November.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by David Darrell-Lambert

Range map

Range map

572visible hotspots
17398visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Note the very long, pink-based bill. Breeding plumage has bright rusty head and breast, dark barring on belly; nonbreeding plumage has rather plain grayish head, breast, and upperparts, unlike streaked breast and back of Bar-tailed Godwit. In flight shows bold white wing stripe, white rump, and black tail.

Behavior

Fairly common but often local; breeds in grassy wetlands, and found year-round in fresh and brackish marshes, and on adjacent tidal flats. Feeds mainly by wading in deep water, probing with its long bill.

Regional timing

Northern Territory
Peak: September to November2,519 records
Queensland
Peak: October to November7,318 records
Western Australia
Peak: August to October545 records
Victoria
Peak: January4,141 records
New South Wales
Peak: November to January2,449 records
South Australia
Peak: March408 records
Tasmania
Peak: March49 records
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