godwit

[ god-wit ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of several large, widely distributed shorebirds of the genus Limosa, as the New World L. haemastica Hudsonian godwit, having a long bill that curves upward slightly.

godwit

/ ˈɡɒdwɪt /

any large shore bird of the genus Limosa, of northern and arctic regions, having long legs and a long upturned bill: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes

Origin of godwit¹

First recorded in 1545–55; of obscure origin

Origin of godwit¹

C16: of unknown origin

Bar-tailed godwits, for example, make the longest nonstop flights of any birds to cross the Pacific Ocean.

More than once at night the cry of migrating waders was heard, curlew being unmistakable, and (I think) bar-tailed godwit.

It somewhat resembles the godwit in coloring, but it is more of a grayish tinge.

Its shorter bill—not over two and a half inches in length—will always distinguish it from the godwit.

The marbled godwit, or marlin as it is also called, is one of the largest birds of the Scolopacidæ family.

This species is apparently not as common or is more locally distributed during migrations than is the Marbled Godwit.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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