Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Limosa (species specific name) haemastica ("bloody)

Moulting adult Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) at Cattawade, Suffolk - August 2026

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 300g  /  Length: 37-42cm  /  Wingspan: 74cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 

Arguably the most remote and understudied of the four godwit species, they breed in largely remote near coastal bogs of Alaska and Canada before migrating to the very south of South America, primarily along the Argentinian Coast. This bird was a very off course vagrant having somehow found its way to the UK, where less than 10 individuals have ever been recorded.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Limosa
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Extremely infrequent vagrant.

 - Birds seen at Cattawade, Suffolk 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

OTHER NAMES: Greater American Godwit
Latin Etymology:  Limosa (species specific name) fedoa (old English word for godwit)

Non-breeding Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa - unknown subspecies) at Monterey, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Weight: 325-390g  /  Length: 44cm  /  Wingspan: 71cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest of the four extant godwit species, they slightly unusual compared ot many of the othe waders seen on the California trip in that the bulk of their breeding range is much further south and inland around the Dakotas and into Canada rather than the tundra favoured by many species. They then migrate to different typical wintering sites along the coast depending on which population they are from.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae 
Genus: Limosa 
SUBSPECIES: L. f. beringiae, L. f. fedoa

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Description
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Hayward, Berkeley and Monterey

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

OTHER NAMES: Barred-rumped Godwit, Pacific Ocean Godwit, Southern, Small Godwit

Latin Etymology: Limosa (species specific name) lapponica ("of Lapland")

Adult Winter Bar-tailed Godwit (subspecies L. l. lapponica) at Thornham Harbour, Norfolk - November 2021

Featured Subspecies: Limosa lapponica lapponica
Weight: 190-630g  /  Length: 37-41cm  /  Wingspan: 70-80cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Despite being, in theory at least, the more numerous of the two British Godwit species, I've personally found finding "Barwits" much harder than their counterpart. The reasons for this are relatively simple in some cases - unlike the Black-tailed, the Bar-tailed is essentially exclusively found on the coast and occasionally up the shores of the larger rivers. Telling the differences between Godwits isn't necessarily easy at first but can be acquired with some practice.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Limosa
Subspecies: L. l. lapponica, L. l. taymyrensis, L. l. menzbieri, L. l. baueri

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common Winter Vistor (41,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at Reculver,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Black-Tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

OTHER NAMES: Common Godwit, Warwhelp, Yarwhip
Latin Etymology: Limosa (species specific name) limosa (species specific name)

 Adult moulting plumage Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: Limosa limosa islandica (?)

Weight: 280-340g  /  Length: 39cm  /  Wingspan: 70-82cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List Near Threatened

Technically speaking, the Black Tailed Godwit is the rarer of Britain's two Godwits, but seeing it is probably easier than the bar tailed for two reasons - firstly it has a greater summer presence in the UK compared to the Bar-tail being almost enitrely a winter migrant. Secondly, the Black-tail can be found much more widely on fresh water than the Bar-tail, meaning that it can be seen inland. Combined together it basically means that unlike the Bar-tail, seeing this bird doesn't require going to the sea in Winter. I found photographing it in general relatively easy - it's large size being a good advantage in that regard, but it doesn't seem to be the kind of bird which favours birdwatching close to hides or vantage points from the ones I've seen. Sadly, the bird in this photograph had a broken wing, and this is likely the only reason I got a photo this clear without it flying off.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae 
Genus: Limosa 
Subspecies: L. l. islandica, L. l. limosa, L. l. melanuroides

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (c. 55 pairs), locally commong Wintering bird (44,000 birds) and passage migrant (12,400 birds)

 - Seen at sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Elmley Marshes. Herne Bay and Oare Marshes

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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