Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

HOW TO IDENTIFY:

* Length: 16 inches
* Very large, long-legged, long-necked shorebird
* Very long, slightly recurved bill
* Pink-based black-tipped bill
* Cinnamon wing linings
* Sexes similar
* Juvenile similar to adult

Adult alternate

* Pale buff head, neck, breast and belly
* Pale face with dark loral stripe
* Dark brown barring on breast and flanks
* Dark back feathers notched with buff creating a mottled effect
* Upperwings brown, with inner wing contrasting with darker outer wing in flight

Adult basic:

* Similar to alternate-plumaged adult, but underparts without or with less barring

Similar species:

Long-billed Curlew is similar in plumage, but has a thinner, longer, decurved bill. The Hudsonian Godwit (and the accidental Black-tailed Godwit) has a white wing stripe and a white tail with a black terminal band. The accidental Bar-tailed Godwit is smaller, with unbarred underparts, whtie wing linings, and a shorter bill that is not so extensively pink-based. Hudsonian, Black-tailed, and Bar-tailed Godwits are grayer in basic plumage and rustier in alternate plumage.