Marbled Godwit (MAGO)

Limosa fedoa

Adult Marbled Godwit © Dorian Anderson / Macaulay Library
Juvenile Marbled Godwit © David Turgeon / Macaulay Library

Range

The Marbled Godwit breeds in some parts of southern Canada and in the midwest states of North and South Dakota. They winter on the coastlines of western and eastern U.S., Mexico, and South America. They can be found during migration in the western corner of Nevada.

Additional Maps

Identification

The Marbled Godwit is a medium-sized bird with long black legs and a distinctive long bill that fades from a pale pink to a dark black at the tip. Males and females appear visibly the same, with females occasionally being slightly larger than males. The Marbled Godwit was named for the varied pattern it bears throughout its neck, body, and wings—shades of tan, warm brown, and black stippling throughout the feathers.

The face of the Marbled Godwit is a light gray or brown shade, with a darker streak of feathers leading from the black eyes to the start of the bill on each side. The top of head, cheeks, and neck are all covered in the same mottled pattern as the rest of the body. Slightly noticeable when grounded but more prominent in flight are the dark primary feathers and tips of the wings of the Marbled Godwit, which stand out against the rest of the warm brown and russet-colored flight feathers. 

Juveniles appear very similar to adults, but lack the dark marbled patterning on their chest and throat, with those feathers still being puffier, lighter, and duller compared to mature individuals. The face of immature birds is also darker, with the stripe leading from the eye to the beak much darker. Lastly, the first half of the bill is a darker pink in juveniles compared to adults.

Listen to its songs and calls here.

Habitat

Marbled Godwits favor grasslands, coastal marshes, wetlands, and occasionally pastures or agricultural fields. They prefer short vegetation with native plants such as western wheatgrass, green needle grass, and blue grama. They can also be found in shallow wetlands, marshes, or bogs, where they feed on aquatic creatures and insects. When wintering, they are found on coastlines, estuaries, mudflats, or beaches, where they are commonly spotted foraging for crustaceans, mollusks, small fish, and tubers. When possible, Marbled Godwits avoid areas with medium or tall grass, and areas with too deep water like lakes or rivers. 

Conservation Status 

  • Listed as Vulnerable by BirdLife International
  • Listed as Vulnerable by Idaho State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 251)
  • Listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
  • Listed as a Species of Greatest Concern by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Listed as Secure by Nature Serve Explorer
  • Listed as Vulnerable by Nevada State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (pg 7)
  • Listed as Vulnerable by Oregon State Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Threats to Conservation

Due to their picky habitat preferences, the largest threat Marbled Godwits face is loss of natural habitat like the short grasslands and prairies they call home. The development and urbanization of wetlands also affects them, as does the pollution and water contamination in the remaining marshland areas. Toxic insecticides also contribute to the population decrease of this species, as their food sources are either dying out or becoming harmful to ingest. Due to the development of many of their habitat preferences, vehicle mortality and power line collisions are also beginning to affect population sizes of these birds. If flocks choose to breed on agricultural fields or near human settlements, the risk of their nests being mowed down is also a serious threat, not only to the eggs and young, but also to the adults incubating the nest who are known to refuse to abandon it.

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General Management Guides
Regional Management Guides
Midwest & Central
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Works Cited