Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
During the nuptial period they have a reddish-brown head, neck and breast. A striped dark brown crown, white eyebrows and black eye stripes. A brown back, with greyish, ochre, reddish and black shades.
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
During the nuptial period they have a reddish-brown head, neck and breast. A striped dark brown crown, white eyebrows and black eye stripes. A brown back, with greyish, ochre, reddish and black shades. On the lower parts, from the breast to halfway down the belly, you can see a brown barring which gradually fades away to white. In flight, you can see a narrow white wing band, dark rump and white tail with a wide black terminal band. A straight black bill with an orange coloured base. Dark legs.
The female is similar to the male, but has less red on the breast and the barring on the belly is less obvious. In winter, the plumage is practically a uniform grey, lighter at the belly and ochre coloured at the breast. The wing band and the black and white tail are the main features distinguishing this species in winter.
It nests in continental wetlands, generally in the shallow waters of tidal flats, lakes, grazing lands, marshlands, etc. During the winter and migratory passages, it occupies similar habitats, but also on the coast (beaches, mudflats, deltas and tidal flats) and in arable croplands (flood irrigation lands). It is very common in the irrigated lands of las Vegas del Guadiana, mainly during the prenuptial passage.