Bar-tailed godwit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bar-tailed godwit |
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Limosa
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| Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758)
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The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a special type of water bird. It is a large wading bird from the sandpiper family. These birds breed in cold Arctic areas. They spend their winters on warmer coasts in places like Asia, Australia, and Africa.
One amazing thing about the bar-tailed godwit is its migration. It flies the longest non-stop journey of any bird. It also flies the longest distance without stopping to eat!
Amazing Journeys: How Far Do They Fly?
Bar-tailed godwits fly together in large groups. They travel to coasts in East Asia, Alaska, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand. In New Zealand, a type of bar-tailed godwit is called Kūaka by the Māori people.
In 2007, scientists tagged some birds in New Zealand. They used satellites to track them all the way to the Yellow Sea in China. This flight was about 11,026 kilometers (6,851 miles) long! It took the birds about nine days to fly this distance without stopping. This is the longest non-stop flight known for any bird. Other godwits also made this incredible journey from New Zealand to the Yellow Sea.
One female bird, nicknamed "E7," flew even further. After reaching China, she continued to Alaska for the breeding season. Then, on August 29, 2007, she started another non-stop flight. She flew from Alaska all the way back to New Zealand. This amazing journey was about 11,680 kilometers (7,258 miles) long. It set a new record for the longest known non-stop flight!
Images for kids
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In flight, showing tail barring
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Banding L. l. baueri at Miranda Shorebird Centre, New Zealand
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Egg
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Breeding plumage, Dorset
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In flight, Dorset
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L. l. lapponica, Spain
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See also
In Spanish: Aguja colipinta para niños
