Black tailed Godwit

Habitat: Wet hay meadows, wet heathland…, In winter mainly along coasts. In addition to pasture, the Black-tailed Godwit also needs shallow water and, outside the breeding season, sand and mud banks to roost on.

Appearance: Locally numerous breeding bird throughout temperate Europe, passes through in spring and autumn migration and is a winter visitor. In Belgium and the Netherlands, numerous breeding bird – year bird – migratory – winter visitor in extremely small numbers.

Breeding season: April to July, ground nest – the male builds the nest in the grass and lines it with withered blades of grass, both partners incubate, 4 eggs.

Characteristics: Length 37 to 42 cm, wingspan 63 to 74 cm, weight 250 to 390 grams, lifespan 18 years.

Food: Black-tailed godwits use their long beaks to probe soft, marshy ground and mud for food. They are most successful in shallow water. They wade into water up to 16 cm deep, immersing their belly feathers, and then dip their head and neck under the water. The tip of the beak is flexible and can pull prey out of the mud without having to open the entire beak. If the prey is covered in mud, it is rinsed off. Black-tailed godwits mainly catch worms, but also crustaceans, insects and larvae.