Photo: Faucon / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 357 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Limosa
- Species fedoa
Where it lives
Subarctic to temperate grassland of Nearctic: disjunctly central Alaska Pen.; south-central Canada to north-central USA; and western James Bay area (northern Ontario, east-central Canada)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 357 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Marbled Godwit hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Marbled Godwit is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA subarctic to temperate grassland of Nearctic: disjunctly c Alaska Pen.; sc Canada to nc USA; and w James Bay area (n Ontario, ec Canada).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 357 g, with a wing length of about 22.5 cm and a tail of around 7.7 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Marbled Godwit?
The Marbled Godwit is a large bird that weighs around 357 g.
Where does the Marbled Godwit live?
The Marbled Godwit is found across North America with a range covering NA subarctic to temperate grassland of Nearctic: disjunctly c Alaska Pen.; sc Canada to nc USA; and w James Bay area (n Ontario, ec Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Marbled Godwit belong to?
The Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Marbled Godwit eat?
The Marbled Godwit hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Marbled Godwit migrate?
The Marbled Godwit is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Marbled Godwit endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Marbled Godwit make?
1 real field recording of the Marbled Godwit — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Marbled Godwit's range?
The Marbled Godwit has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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