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Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
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Fun Facts |
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The marbled godwit has a long, slightly upturned bill with a dark tip and pinkish base.
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Nests of the marbled godwit are not easily found, as the adults are not easily flushed off the nest.
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Description |
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The marbled godwit is a type of shorebird that lives in mudflats and wetlands. Marbled godwits occur from Canada to South America. Adults have long blue-grey legs and a long pink bill with a slight upward curve and dark coloring at the tip. The long neck, breast, and belly are pale brown with dark bars on the breast and flanks. The back is mottled and dark. 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).
Marbled godwits feed on insects and crustaceans, but at times also eat aquatic plants. They forage by probing in the soft sediment in mudflats, marshes, or beaches. They nest on the ground, in western Canada and the northern United States near marshes or ponds. In the fall, they migrate south to the coasts of California, Mexico, and South America. Their numbers are reduced due to hunting and habitat loss.
To learn more about the marbled godwit and other shorebirds visit the Mudflats Room at the Aquarium.
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