Godwit, Black-tailed

Conservation status:

Rare Passage Migrant and Winter Visitor

Description:

Large, graceful wader with long bill and legs and diagnostic, contrasting flight pattern. On ground, most similar to Bar-tailed, but slightly larger and more erect due to longer legs and neck; bill slightly longer and straighter. In summer plumage, both sexes have varying amount of rusty red on head, neck and fore-body with diffuse, dark bars on lower breast, fore-belly and flanks, rest of underparts white. Female duller, sometimes predominantly greyish. Non-breeding plumage uniform grey (more uniform than Bar-tailed), washed ochre on neck and breast in juvenile and with pink-based bill. In all plumages easily distinguished in flight by strong, white wing-bar and white tail with broad, black terminal band and long trailing legs and feet.