Black-Tailed Godwit

Conservation Status: 🔴 Red

What am I?

While they tend to prefer freshwater, this large wader can still be spotted on our shores and estuaries, albeit rarely, as its numbers have significantly declined.

How to Identify Me

A visitor to our shores during autumn and winter, they are similar in appearance to to bar-tailed godwits. While difficult to tell apart, a black-tailed godwit is taller than it’s maritime focused cousin with a longer and straighter beak.

How Can You Help Me?

Black-tailed godwits are a Schedule 1 species. Meaning that they have full protection from disturbances.

Make sure to give them lots of space if you see them foraging for food in the water. During low tide is when black-tailed godwits will have the most access to food, so take extra caution when the tide is out.

Also ensure to keep your ears and eyes peeled for distress calls or birds becoming aware of your presence.

black-tailed Godwit; birdaware essex, essex coast

Listen to what I sound like:

Conservation Status

The black-tailed godwit is red listed in the UK