# Marbled Godwit (*Limosa fedoa*) The Marbled Godwit is a tall, long-legged bird with a beautiful, patterned body. It loves to wade in shallow waters looking for yummy snacks like worms and insects. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Marbled Godwit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/MarbledGodwit.jpg&width=800) Photo: Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MarbledGodwit.jpg) ## Appearance The Marbled Godwit has long bluish-gray legs and a striking pinkish-orange bill with a dark tip that curves slightly upwards. Its body plumage is mottled brown and buff, creating a distinct marbled pattern which helps it blend into marshy environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Limosa ## Interesting facts - Godwit chicks can walk and feed themselves just hours after hatching! - Marbled Godwits communicate with 'god-wit' calls, giving them their name! - Their long, upturned bill is perfect for probing deep into soft mud! - They nest in a simple scrape on the ground, often hidden by tall grass. ## Special abilities - **Tactile Tracker:** Marbled Godwit can feel buried worms with its sensitive bill because of nerve endings that help them detect hidden prey. - **Wading Wonder:** Marbled Godwit has long legs that help them wade into deeper water without getting their bodies wet to find food. - **Migration Master:** Marbled Godwit can fly thousands of kilometers non-stop because of strong wings that help them reach distant wintering grounds. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-50 cm - **Wingspan:** 70-80 cm - **Weight:** 0.25-0.45 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-13 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 22-23 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding They probe muddy wetlands and coasts, using their long bills to find worms, insects, and tiny shellfish. - **Primary Foods:** marine worms, insect larvae, small crustaceans, mollusks, small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lugworm (*Arenicola marina*) — A common prey item found in muddy substrates. - **Eaten by:** Grass Shrimp (*Palaemonetes pugio*) — Small crustaceans often foraged in shallow waters. - **Eats:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Can prey on eggs, chicks, or adult godwits. - **Eats:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A nocturnal raptor that preys on various birds. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Marbled Godwit? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Marbled Godwit? 40-50 cm ### What is Marbled Godwit's wingspan? 70-80 cm ### How much does Marbled Godwit weigh? 0.25-0.45 kg ### How long does Marbled Godwit live? 5-13 years ### How fast can Marbled Godwit move? 60 km/h ### What does Marbled Godwit eat? They probe muddy wetlands and coasts, using their long bills to find worms, insects, and tiny shellfish. ### Where is Marbled Godwit usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-key-scrub-state-reserve) — Florida, US · State Park - [Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elkhorn-slough-national-estuarine-research-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Ocean Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ocean-beach) — California, US · Neighborhood - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/venue-af6a0145-181) — California, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Marbled Godwit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/marbled-godwit) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Marbled Godwit: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marbled-godwit)