Black-tailed godwit: focus on this long-legged wader

As part of our winter appeal, we're taking an in-depth look into wading birds. 

In the third of our wading birds series, let’s look at the black-tailed godwit, a striking wading bird known for its long legs, slender body, and long, straight bill.  

Black-tailed godwits form monogamous pairs that last for years. Every spring, loyal couples will arrive at their breeding grounds within three days of each other, mate and raise their chicks together. 

They rely on wetlands to survive the colder months, but their habitats are disappearing, and they are facing growing challenges finding enough food and shelter. Wetlands are often drained for farming or development, leaving many species without the resources they need to survive the Winter. 

One of the key threats to wading birds is predation, particularly at the egg and chick stage due to an increase of foxes and crows in the countryside. Waders are also long-distant travellers and need places to land and then carry on their journeys. 

This Winter, we’re asking for your help to build a simple, yet potentially lifesaving feature on our farmland at Bere Marsh in Dorset and Lark Rise in Cambridgeshire - a series of shallow, muddy channels to attract wading birds where they can feed and thrive.   

Black-tailed godwit

Dr Vince Lea, CRT Conservation Officer

Dr Vince Lea, our CRT conservation officer, said we may see black-tailed godwits on our farms during the wintertime.  

“There are two European populations of black-tailed godwit. The UK population, which spends its winter in Portugal and Spain, can be found on one or two sites in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, but they are extremely rare and struggling to survive. However, we are more likely to see the Icelandic population at Bere Marsh Farm once the wetland is created. They come to the Poole harbour area and could likely come to Bere Marsh. This population is thriving and increasing.” 

Key facts 

• Appearance: The black-tailed godwit has a long, straight bill, which it uses to probe mud and sand for invertebrates. Its plumage varies with the season. In summer, the adult bird has a bright orangey-brown chest and belly, while in winter they're more greyish brown. The long, slightly upturned bill is dark, and the legs are long and black. The most similar species is the bar-tailed godwit, which breeds in the high arctic and visits Britain in winter. The key difference is the tail pattern, a solid black panel on the black-tailed, compared to multiple stripes of black and white on the bar-tailed.

• Conservation Status: Classified in the UK as red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). 

• Size: It measures about 40–45 cm in length, with a wingspan of around 70–80 cm. Males and females are similar in size, though males are often slightly smaller. 

• Habitat: Typically found in coastal wetlands, estuaries, and mudflats, as well as freshwater marshes and wet grasslands during its migration and wintering periods. It prefers areas with shallow waters where it can forage for food, like worms, insects, and molluscs. 

• Lifespan: The average lifespan of a black-tailed godwit in the wild is about 18 years. They typically start breeding at 2–3 years old. 

How You Can Help 

We need your help to provide the resources and habitats that black-tailed godwits and many other wading birds so desperately need.  

By contributing to our winter appeal, you can make a real difference in the fight to save these remarkable birds. 

With your support, we can restore wetlands, build vital feeding channels, and create safer, more resilient habitats for black-tailed godwits across our farms. Together, we can help protect these birds for future generations. 

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