Species of Concern
Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
Also known as: Great Marbled Godwit, Marwit
About This Species
Look for a large shorebird probing deep into mudflats and shoreline sediment with its long, slightly upturned bill, often in mixed flocks with other large waders. It breeds in northern prairie grasslands and wet meadows, then moves to coastal mudflats, salt marshes and estuaries for migration stopovers and wintering. Migration periods at productive coastal sites typically offer the best and most reliable viewing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species is listed as Vulnerable, and migration stopover sites are critical refuelling points where repeated disturbance can cost birds the energy reserves they need to complete their journey, so keep well back from feeding and roosting flocks and avoid causing them to take flight.
- Legal protections for migratory shorebirds vary across its North American breeding and wintering range, including measures under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the US and Canada, so check local rules rather than assuming uniform coverage.
- Use marked trails, hides or viewing platforms where available instead of approaching flocks directly.
VUAvesCharadriiformesScolopacidae
Seasonal Activity
697,469 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.