Bar-tailed Godwit Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Bar-tailed Godwits undergo incredible physical changes before their long-distance flights. They bulk up on fatty foods to gain weight, attaining the highest fat levels reported for any bird species (55% of body weight). At the same time, their heart and breast muscles enlarge, while their digestive organs (which won’t be used during the flight) shrink just before departure.

One way Bar-tailed Godwits keep their chicks safe is by nesting close to species that aggressively mob predators to drive them away. These include birds like Black-bellied Plover, Whimbrel, and Long-tailed Jaeger, which Bar-tailed Godwits join in chasing away raptors, cranes, jaegers, gulls, and ravens. The association lasts even after godwit chicks leave the nest; they often form groups with other shorebird chicks (Black-bellied Plover, American and Pacific Golden-Plovers, Whimbrel, Bristle-thighed Curlew, and Dunlin) and Long-tailed Jaeger.

The oldest recorded Bar-tailed Godwit was at least 36 years, 1 month old when it was recaptured by researchers in the United Kingdom in August 2008.

Basic Description

Other Names