Appearance

Appearance

A large shorebird, 14–16 in (35–41 cm) long, with a long, slightly upturned bill. Breeding males are bright cinnamon-red below; females are larger, longer-billed, and much paler. In fall and winter both are gray-brown with a striped-looking back. In flight the pale tail shows dark bars, and its legs are shorter than those of other godwits.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Tundra
• Tidal mudflats
• Shorelines

Range

Breeds across the Arctic from northern Scandinavia to western Alaska and winters on coasts of Europe, Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In North America it breeds in western Alaska; a few turn up on either US coast during migration.

Preferred conditions

In Alaska it nests on rolling tundra hills with hummocks and low, stunted shrubs, the same kind of habitat used by Whimbrels. During migration and winter it feeds on tidal mudflats.

Migration

Alaskan birds fly nonstop more than 6,000 miles (9,700 km) over the ocean in about eight days. A tagged female named E7 flew 7,258 miles (11,680 km) from Alaska to New Zealand in 2007, and in 2022 a young bird flew at least 8,426 miles (13,560 km) from Alaska to Tasmania in 11 days.

Behavior

Diet

In summer in Alaska it eats mostly aquatic insects, plus some seeds and berries. At other times it probes mudflats for worms, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects.

Life cycle

Nest

A shallow depression on a raised tundra hummock, lined with grass, moss, and lichens.

Clutch size

Usually 4 eggs, olive or pale brown with a few brown spots

Incubation

Both parents incubate for about 3 weeks.

Fledging

Chicks feed themselves soon after hatching while both parents guard them, and they first fly at about 28–30 days. One brood a year; birds first breed at age two.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NTNear Threatened·Could become threatened before long