Bar-Tailed Godwit on Tundra

Bar-tailed Godwits are large wading birds at about 37 to 45 cm. The Bar-tailed Godwit is a mottled brown in the upper body and a lighter buff below. It has a white underwing, and a long, slightly upturned bill. As the name suggests, the white tail is barred with brown. This is the non-breeding plumage of the Bar-tailed Godwit and is the main phase seen in Australia. The breeding plumage is darker and more rufous, with females duller than males. Young birds resemble non-breeding birds. For more information about this species visit http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i2500id.html For more information about migratory shorebirds visit http://www.fws.gov/birds/