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Home/Species/ Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Marbled Godwit

G5Secure Found in 138 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). © Aidan Brubaker; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Aidan Brubaker; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). © Dorian Anderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Dorian Anderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). © Tony Dvorak; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Tony Dvorak; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). © Ryan Sanderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Ryan Sanderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). © Matthew Dolkart; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Matthew Dolkart; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). © John Breker; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© John Breker; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101687
Element CodeABNNF08040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
GenusLimosa
Other Common Names
Barge marbrée (FR) marbled godwit (EN) Picopando Canelo, Zarapito Moteado (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Alaska breeding population recently was described as a new subspecies (beringiae; Gibson and Kessel 1989).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-11-25
Edition Date2014-08-11
Edition AuthorsJue, Dean K.
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
This species is currently ranked a G5 by NatureServe and this convention is used here.
Range Extent Comments
BREEDING: largest breeding population: southern Prairie Provinces of Canada south to central Montana, central North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota and northwestern Minnesota (AOU 1983); smaller isolated populations at James Bay, Canada, and vicinity of Ugashik Bay, Alaska, on northern coast of Alaskan Peninsula (Gibson and Kessel 1989). NON-BREEDING: southern U.S. (central California, western Nevada, Gulf coast, coastal South Carolina south to Florida) south to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Chile (AOU 1983). Accidental in Hawaii. Nonbreeders occur in summer in winter range. MIGRATION: primarily through interior North America and along California coast, regularly north to British Columbia and southern Alaska, and, primarily in fall, along Atlantic coast from southeastern Canada to Greater Antilles (AOU 1983). Previously (mid-1800s) an abundant migrant along Atlantic coast from New England south; now rare. Common on west coast.
Occurrences Comments
With an estimated population of 170,000 (Morrison, et. al. 2006), there should be 100 or more EOs.
Threat Impact Comments
Apparently extirpated from much of former habitat in U.S. by excessive market hunting. Currently, it is threatened by its requiring large territories in a vanishing prarie land scape (National Audubon Society, 2014). Exotic species, fire suppression, draining of seasonal wetlands, highway expansion, and converson of shortgrass prairie to cropland is degrading this species' breeding habitat.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Marshes and flooded plains; in migration and when not breeding also on mudflats and beaches (AOU 1983) and open shallow water along shorelines. Post-breeders often in flooded livestock feedlots and alkali wetlands in North Dakota. Sleeps or rests on dikes in salt ponds, mangroves (Costa Rica, Stiles and Skutch 1989). Nests on ground in grassy prairies, pastures, and hayfields, near lakes and ponds; coastal marshland at James Bay. Often nests in semi-permanent wetlands, may select ephemeral alkali and temporary ponds when available.

Ecology

Nonbreeding: forages singly or in small loose groups, roosts in larger groups (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Breeding territories large, often including both feeding and nesting areas; in North Dakota, mean size 90 hectares (Ryan et al. 1984). Nests occasionally as close as 60 meters (Nowicki 1973, Gratto-Trevor 2000). Distances between nests of same birds in different years range from 73-1060 meters (Gratto-Trevor 2000).

Reproduction

Breeding begins mid- to late May (Harrison 1978). Usually 4 eggs are incubated by both sexes. Length of incubation is not known. Nestlings are precocial. Often nests in semicolonial groups (Hayman et al. 1986).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousSand/dune
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOLHERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
OklahomaS2NYes
New JerseyS4NYes
LouisianaS4NYes
FloridaS3NYes
PennsylvaniaSNAYes
TexasS4Yes
South CarolinaS4NYes
VirginiaSNRNYes
IllinoisSNAYes
ConnecticutSNAYes
South DakotaS5BYes
AlaskaSNRBYes
North CarolinaS2NYes
OregonS3NYes
KansasS3NYes
WashingtonS3NYes
MissouriSNAYes
ArkansasSNAYes
ArizonaS3MYes
IowaSXBYes
MississippiS2NYes
NevadaS3MYes
DelawareS1NYes
IdahoS4MYes
NebraskaSNRNYes
Rhode IslandS2NYes
GeorgiaS3Yes
New MexicoS4NYes
MichiganSNRNYes
AlabamaS3NYes
UtahS2Yes
MontanaS4BYes
OhioSNAYes
MinnesotaS3BYes
CaliforniaSNRNYes
New YorkSNRNYes
MaineSNAYes
MarylandSNAYes
Navajo NationS4MYes
WyomingS4NYes
North DakotaSUYes
MassachusettsS1NYes
WisconsinSNAYes
CanadaN4B,NUN
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3M,S3NYes
OntarioS2BYes
NunavutS2BYes
QuebecS3BYes
SaskatchewanS4BYes
ManitobaS3BYes
AlbertaS4BYes
Roadless Areas (138)
Alaska (25)
AreaForestAcres
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-14Chugach National Forest184
Chugach-14Chugach National Forest184
Chugach-15Chugach National Forest56
Chugach-15Chugach National Forest56
Chugach-16Chugach National Forest312
Chugach-16Chugach National Forest312
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
California (49)
AreaForestAcres
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
Benton RangeInyo National Forest9,637
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Crane Mtn.Modoc National Forest1,269
Crane Mtn.Modoc National Forest1,269
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
Dobie FlatModoc National Forest15,079
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Long MeadowHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,967
Long MeadowHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,967
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest7,771
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
WattersonInyo National Forest6,922
WattersonInyo National Forest6,922
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
Idaho (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Montana (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
Tenderfoot - Deep CreekLewis and Clark National Forest85,614
Nevada (8)
AreaForestAcres
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Ward MountainHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,927
Ward MountainHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,927
WildhorseHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,204
WildhorseHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,204
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Pocosin AdditionCroatan National Forest286
Pocosin AdditionCroatan National Forest286
North Dakota (16)
AreaForestAcres
BlacktailDakota Prairie Grasslands8,620
BlacktailDakota Prairie Grasslands8,620
DurlerDakota Prairie Grasslands12,464
DurlerDakota Prairie Grasslands12,464
Easy HillDakota Prairie Grasslands7,344
Easy HillDakota Prairie Grasslands7,344
Kinley PlateauDakota Prairie Grasslands16,900
Kinley PlateauDakota Prairie Grasslands16,900
Scairt WomanDakota Prairie Grasslands6,099
Scairt WomanDakota Prairie Grasslands6,099
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
Tracy MountainDakota Prairie Grasslands9,756
Tracy MountainDakota Prairie Grasslands9,756
VenloDakota Prairie Grasslands5,317
VenloDakota Prairie Grasslands5,317
Oregon (10)
AreaForestAcres
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
South Dakota (3)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
South ForkDakota Prairie Grasslands7,653
South ForkDakota Prairie Grasslands7,653
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (10)
AreaForestAcres
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Cove CreekFishlake National Forest25,555
Cove CreekFishlake National Forest25,555
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Washington (2)
AreaForestAcres
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Wyoming (2)
AreaForestAcres
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
References (43)
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