Common Name: Bar-tailed Godwit

Distribution: Eastern and north-western mainland Australia and Tasmania. A migratory species, Bar-tailed Godwits arrive in Australia each year in August from breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.

Ecological Notes: Birds wade through the shallows or over exposed mudflats and sandbanks and probe their long bills rapidly into the substrate to find food. Primarily forages for insects, worms, molluscs and crustaceans, and also parts of aquatic plants. 

Additional Notes: Has a long, slightly upturned dark-tipped bill, rump white with dark scalloping. Similar Black-tailed Godwit has long, more straight dark-tipped bill, the rump is white and the tail black. Feeding parties may number up to 30 or more birds. 

References: Atlas of Living Australia at Bar-tailed Godwit Accessed 14 August 2023.
Birdlife Australia at https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/bar-tailed-godwit/ Accessed 27 July 2020.