Limosa lapponica
Bar-tailed Godwit
©Leo: Bega Valley, New South Wales, Australia
©Francesco Canu: Sardinia (Italy)
©Patrick Kavanagh: Shoalhaven Head, NSW
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Limosa
Species
Limosa lapponica
Status
least concern
Colours
Distinguishing features
It has a distinctive black-and-white barred tail, from which this species gets its common name. It has blue-grey legs and a dark, slightly upturned bill with a pink base.
The breeding plumage of the male is a rich chestnut across the back and breast while the non-breeding plumage is a relatively dull grey-brown. The female and juvenile have a similar grey-brown plumage, with the juvenile showing slightly more buff colouration.
Size
- From 37 cm to 41 cm (Length of specimen)
Weight
- From 0.19 kg to 0.4 kg - applies to Males
- From 0.26 kg to 0.63 kg - applies to Females
Wingspan
- From 70 cm to 80 cm
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
Black-tailed Godwit (species: Limosa limosa)
Limosa lapponica is stockier-looking when flying, with shorter legs that barely extend beyond its tail. The Limosa lapponica plumage resembles a Curlew or a Whimbrel, being essentially brown with a barred tail; most significantly, it lacks a wing-bar and shows a white 'V' up its back. When on the ground the Limosa limosa can be difficult to separate from the similar Limosa lapponica, but the Limosa limosa has a longer, straighter bill and longer legs, which are diagnostic. Limosa limosa are similar in body size and shape to Limosa lapponica, but stand taller.
Interesting facts
- It performs the longest non-stop migration of any land bird (approximately 10,400km over about 175 hours). This non-stop flight requires large fat reserves and the ability to shrink the internal organs to reduce weight while in flight.
Distribution
Audio recordings
calls of 2 birds after being flushed from a small beach at Viareggio, Lucca, Tuscany in Italy
© Marco Dragonetti
(source)
Web resources
References
- Simpson, K., N. Day and P. Trusler (2004). Field Guide to Birds of Australia: 7th Edition Penguin Group (Australia), Camberwell, Victoria.
- Smith, G.C. (1987). The birds of Eagle Island, a tropical sand cay on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Sunbird, 17(1): 1-11. LIRS catalog number 245.