Black-tailed godwit

Black-tailed godwit

The beginning of autumn sees the number of winter visitors to our shores and estuaries starting to build up. Among them is the welcome sight of flocks of the black-tailed godwit arriving at Brownsea.

Can you spot a godwit on Dorset Wildlife Trusts' Brownsea Island Lagoon webcam?

View a slideshow of your amazing godwit pictures in the Flickr group.

Watch all the best godwit action from the shows.

Species information

Once settled the godwit will march about on the mudflats digging up crabs and worms to eat with its long, slender bill. With its tall legs, it's a typical wading bird in appearance. Its pale grey winter feathers turn a pleasant red in spring. An easy way to tell the black-tailed godwit from the similar bar-tailed godwit? Just look at the tail: one has a black one the other a barred one (as their names might suggest).

The black-tailed godwit has had a hard time over the years. Back in the 17th century it was considered a delicacy at the dinner table and in later years persecution and loss of habitat meant that it stopped breeding in this country. Happily this situation has changed and the black-tailed godwit has once again started to breed on these shores.

In winter you'll find black-tailed godwits from Iceland, and those on passage from Western Europe to Africa (including our own small breeding population) mainly along the coastline of southern England and Ireland.

How to help

Join your local RSPB group to find out more about and help with the conservation of the black-tailed godwit. You can also help the BTO record bird migration and distribution throughout the UK online with BirdTrack.

Godwit feeding technique

Watch how the godwit feeds from shallow waters in this wading bird compilation. Bill explains some of the techniques these birds employ to obtain their food.