Bird Guide

Bar-tailed Godwit vs Marbled Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Medium292 gWetland

The bar-tailed godwit is a relatively short-legged species of godwit. The bill-to-tail length is 37–41 cm (15–16 in), with a wingspan of 70–80 cm (28–31 in). Males average smaller than females but with much overlap; males weigh 190–400 g (6.7–14.1 oz), while females weigh 260–630 g (9.2–22.2 oz); there is also some regional variation in size (see subspecies, below). The adult has blue-grey legs and a long, tapering, slightly upturned bi-coloured bill, pink at the base and black towards the tip. The neck, breast and belly are unbroken brick red in breeding plumage, and dark brown above.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

Large357 gWetland

The total length is 40–50 cm (16–20 in), including a large bill of 8–13 cm (3.1–5.1 in), and wingspan is 70–88 cm (28–35 in). Body mass can vary from 240 to 520 g (8.5 to 18.3 oz). The average weight of 40 males was 326 g (11.5 oz) and that of 45 females was 391 g (13.8 oz). Bill length is from 73.9 to 131 mm (2.91 to 5.16 in). Among all the members of the sandpiper family, only the curlews attain sizes that significantly exceed this species. Adults have long blue-grey legs and a very long pink bill with a slight upward curve and dark at the tip.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Daniel Ruthrauff, USGS, Alaska Science Center · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Bar-tailed Godwit and Marbled Godwit.