Species › Birds › Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

UncommonBird
Illustration of Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)

The Hudsonian Godwit is a large, boldly patterned shorebird that makes one of the most remarkable migrations in the bird world — flying nonstop from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to South America, a journey of over 9,000 miles. In breeding plumage males are chestnut below and the white wing stripe and black tail are visible in flight. It is one of the least-known breeding birds in North America.

Habitat
Boreal forest-tundra transition in summer; South American grasslands in winter
Diet
Aquatic invertebrates, marine worms, and insects
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Hudsonian Godwit

The best time to see a Hudsonian Godwit is April–June, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,988 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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