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Dieren en planten

Waders   Godwits en shanks   Black-tailed godwit   Bar-tailed godwit   Ruff   Birds   Important bird region   

Black-tailed godwit

size:

length: 36-44 centimeters
wingspan: 62-70 centimeters

weight:

male: 280 grams
female: 340 grams

color:

gray-brown, males with a rusty brown in the summer

age:

record: 23 years

food:

worms, insects and larva such as leatherjackets. In Africa, they eat rice

reproduction:

maturity: age 2
number of eggs per nest: 4

  • Dut: Grutto
  • Eng: Black-tailed Godwit
  • Fren: Barge à queue noire
  • Ger: Uferschnepfe
  • Dan: Stor Kobbersneppe
  • Nor: Svarthalespove
  • Frisian: Skries
  • Ital: Pittima reale
  • Lat: Limosa limosa
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Black-tailed godwit, Johan Krol, Ameland

Black-tailed godwit

The black-tailed godwit is the ambassador of Dutch polder landscapes. Its 'kru-weitoo-weitoo' call often makes it an easy bird to recognize. Around half of the world population of black-tailed godwits nest in the Netherlands, making this country the most important black-tailed godiwit land. The first godwits return at the end of February to nest. In July, most of the godwits have departed for West Africa, where they remain during the winter.

On Texel


"When I hear the 'marels' calling, I can't concentrate" said a Texel school child in the early 20th century to his teacher Jac. P Thijsse when he was reprimanded. He knew that his teacher would be sympathetic to this problem. Marel is Texels for black-tailed godwit. Thijsse was responsible for meadow bird reservations on the island, including the black-tailed godwit. Most of the nests lie along the east coast in the reservations belonging to Natuurmonumenten. A few pairs nest in the damp dune pastures on the other side of the island.

  • Threatened
    Black-tailed godwit, foto fitis, adriaan dijksen

    Every year, fewer black-tailed godwits are found in the Netherlands. While there were around 100,000 pairs breeding in the country in 1990, the nesting population was estimated between 45,000 and 67,000 in 2008. It is necessary to protect black-tailed godwits because they are being threatened by intensive agricultural methods. They are not able to survive early mowing, drainage and lots of fertilizer. Even in nature areas the bird is having difficulties, due to acidification, increasing scantiness and overdue maintenance.
    A rescue plan for this bird species was unsuccessful in 2005. In order to better understand the decline, Dutch biologists have been researching what happens during migration and how the birds spend the winter. It appears that godwits stop in Portugal and Spain and eat leftover rice from the harvest. However, more efficient methods for harvesting result in less rice left in the fields.

  • Black-tailed godwit paling
    Black-tailed godwit, fotov fitis, adriaan dijksen

    Male godwits were more colorful 150 years ago than present day. Studies of stuffed godwits from various museums uncovered this phenomenon. Perhaps paler godwits have a greater chance in brooding success than colorful specimen, whereby the selection took place over the years.

  • Satellite transmitters

    In May 2009, fifteen black-tailed godwits in Friesland were equipped with a small transmitter. This allowed scientists to follow the birds a year long, including their migration to and from southern Europe and Africa. By understanding more about the migration route of the birds, protecting the birds outside of the Netherlands can be coordinated better. The transmitters were placed in the birds' air bladder during a minor operation. It turned out the placement was not good. The female godwits were not able to lay eggs due to the transmitters. The transmitters worked inadvertently as a kind of IUD. The scientists were horrified; it was not their intention to interfere with the birds in any way. Thanks to the transmitters, they now know that the godwits can fly more than 5000 kilometers non-stop in three days, with an average velocity of 70 kilometers per hour! Nevertheless, they will no longer use these transmitters again.