Birds Active during the day

Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The Marbled Godwit is a master of the mudflats, using its long, slightly upturned bill to probe for hidden treasures. With its warm cinnamon plumage and impressive migratory journey, it is a crown jewel of the North American shoreline.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 42-48 cm (17-19 in), Wingspan: 74-82 cm (29-32 in), Weight: 285-454 g (10-16 oz)

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Colors

Overall cinnamon-buff with dark brown mottling on the back; wings show bright cinnamon under-linings in flight; bill is pinkish at the base with a black tip.

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Key Features

Long, bi-colored bill with a slight upward curve
Beautifully mottled cinnamon and brown 'marbled' plumage
Distinctive bluish-gray legs
Largest of the four godwit species

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-11 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season April-May and August-October

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Diet Insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and marine worms found by probing mud; also consumes aquatic plant tubers during migration.

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Habitat Native prairies and grasslands for breeding; coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches during winter.

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Where Does the Marbled Godwit Live?

Native to North America, the Marbled Godwit follows a distinct migratory path between the interior plains and the ocean. Its primary breeding grounds are located in the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada, specifically throughout the prairie pothole region. Once winter approaches, these birds migrate to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts, where they can be found from the southern United States down through Mexico and into Central America. Because they rely on very specific wetland habitats, they are most commonly spotted in high-density pockets along coastlines rather than being evenly distributed across the continent.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

9 Countries

2.1M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States CA Canada MX Mexico BZ Belize GT Guatemala HN Honduras NI Nicaragua CR Costa Rica PA Panama

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Marbled Godwit is a highly social shorebird, often seen in large, synchronized flocks during migration and wintering months. They are energetic foragers, known for a 'stitching' motion where they rapidly probe their long bills deep into mud or sand to locate prey. Unlike some solitary shorebirds, they frequently roost together in dense groups on beaches or salt marshes during high tide, waiting for the water to recede so they can feed again.

During the breeding season on the northern prairies, their behavior shifts from social to territorial. Males perform dramatic, loud aerial displays to defend nesting sites, flying in wide circles while calling out a rhythmic 'rad-ka-rad-ka.' While they are generally wary of humans in the wild, they can become quite habituated to people in coastal areas with high foot traffic, often foraging just a few yards away from beachgoers.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

Capturing a Marbled Godwit on a trail camera requires an understanding of tidal patterns. If you are placing a camera near a coastal area or estuary, position it at the 'wrack line'—the debris line left by the high tide. As the tide comes in, it pushes the godwits closer to the shore, funneling them right in front of your lens. Set your camera on a very low tripod or a flat ground mount to get an eye-level perspective; this creates a professional-looking 'bokeh' background and emphasizes the bird's impressive bill.

Because shorebirds move quickly while probing, use a camera with a fast trigger speed (0.2 seconds or less) and set it to a multi-shot burst mode. This ensures you capture the moment the bird pulls a worm or crab from the substrate. If your camera allows for video, 60fps is ideal for slowing down their rapid 'stitching' feeding motion in post-production. Make sure your housing is well-sealed against salt spray, which is corrosive; a simple protective 'rain hood' can save your equipment in coastal environments.

Lighting is your best friend when trying to highlight their cinnamon-colored plumage. Aim for western-facing placements for morning shots or eastern-facing for evening golden hour. Avoid mid-day sun, as the reflection off the wet mud can cause harsh highlights and 'blow out' the details in the bird's feathers. If setting up in a backyard that borders a wetland, ensure there is an open patch of mud or very shallow water, as Marbled Godwits avoid dense vegetation where predators might hide.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Marbled Godwit.

Long-billed Curlew

The Curlew is larger and has a much longer bill that curves significantly downward, whereas the Godwit's bill curves slightly upward.

Hudsonian Godwit

The Hudsonian is smaller, has a darker chest during breeding, and shows a distinct black-and-white tail pattern in flight.

American Avocet

Avocets have a much more dramatic upward curve to their thinner bills and feature bold black and white wing patterns.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Marbled Godwits are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. However, their activity is heavily dictated by the tides; they are most active when the tide is falling or rising, uncovering the mudflats where they feed.

Unless you live directly on a coastal mudflat or a prairie wetland, it is difficult to attract them. However, homeowners on tidal creeks can encourage them by maintaining natural shoreline buffers and avoiding the use of pesticides that kill the invertebrates they eat.

Their diet consists mostly of aquatic invertebrates like marine worms, small crabs, and mollusks. On their breeding grounds in the prairies, they shift to eating grasshoppers and other insects, as well as plant tubers.

They are only common in suburban areas that are directly adjacent to large saltwater marshes, estuaries, or sandy beaches. They are rarely found in typical inland suburban yards.

The easiest way is to look at the bill: a Marbled Godwit's bill curves slightly upward, while a Long-billed Curlew's bill has a very distinct downward curve.

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