Common name: Black-tailed Godwit
Scientific name: Limosa limosa
Family: Scolopacidae

Size:
Body length: 40–44 cm
Wingspan: 70–82 cm
Weight: 280–450 g

Identification:
A large and elegant wader with long legs and a long, straight bill. In breeding plumage, it shows a rich reddish-orange coloration on the head, neck, and breast, while the upperparts are mottled brown. In non-breeding plumage, it becomes grey-brown overall with a paler underside. In flight, it is unmistakable due to its bold white wingbar and contrasting black-and-white tail pattern. The bill is pinkish at the base with a dark tip.

Habitat:
Wetlands, marshes, flooded grasslands, estuaries, and coastal mudflats. During migration and winter, it is commonly found in shallow waters and intertidal zones.

Status in the UAE:
Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Regularly recorded in coastal wetlands and inland water bodies.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on worms, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans, probing mud and soft ground with its long bill.

Behavior:
Often seen in flocks, especially during migration and winter. Feeds methodically by probing and sweeping its bill through mud. Strong and direct flight, often in tight groups. Known for long-distance migration between breeding and wintering grounds.

Conservation status:
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List)