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black-tailed godwit

bird
Also known as: Limosa limosa

Quick Summary

The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large shorebird, approximately 40 cm (16 inches) long, including its bill. It is characterized by a long, straight bill and a distinctive broad black band on its white tail. This species breeds in Iceland and across the wet plains of Eurasia. The black-tailed godwit is recognized as the emblem of the Netherlands Ornithological Union. Godwits, in general, are known for their whistling calls and belong to the genus Limosa within the Scolopacidae family. They typically exhibit reddish-brown plumage in the summer and grayish tones in the winter, with all species nesting in the Northern Hemisphere.12

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