Habitat

Lowland scrub tundra, forest tundra, rolling uplands, wet river valleys and open larch woodland close to water bodies . After breeding, mainly in intertidal areas, preferably sandy parts of estuaries , inlets, mangrove-fringed lagoons, sheltered bays. Locally at inland wetlands and short-grass meadows.

North America

Occurs on treeless Alaskan tundra from Subarctic (southern limit, 58°45´N) to Arctic (north to about 70°45´N). Found from sea level throughout coastal portions of range to 440 m above sea level in mountainous regions; in both Subarctic and Arctic, occurs on lowland plains and montane valleys.

On Nushagak Peninsula, at southern limit of North American breeding range (Figure 1), probable breeders found in wet sedge meadows with hummocks covered by moss and dwarf shrubs (dwarf birch [Betula nana], crowberry [Empetrum nigrum]; T. Pogson unpubl.). On Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK, breeding habitat always includes level or gently sloping dwarf-shrub or graminoid meadows well beyond treeline; dominant dwarf shrubs include ovalleaf willow (Salix ovalifolia), Alaska bog willow (S. fuscescens), dwarf birch, Labrador-tea (Ledum decumbens), bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), mountain-cranberry (V. vitis-idaea), bog cranberry (V. oxycoccus), and/or crowberry (BJM). Dwarf shrubs usually associated with lichens (Cladina, Certraria), Sphagnum, tussock-forming and/or nontussock-forming sedges (Eriophorum, Carex). Congeneric (and narrowly sympatric) Hudsonian Godwit often in similar habitat, but usually more closely associated with open woodland, forest edges, and muskeg (McCaffery and Harwood 2000 McCaffery, B. J., and C. M. Harwood (2000). Status of Hudsonian Godwits on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Western Birds 31:165–177. Close ). Otherwise, Bar-tailed Godwit habitat on Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta variable, from coast to ≥100 km inland, from flat, vegetated, intertidal meadows to alpine valleys with adjacent slopes rising steeply to summits 150–350 m higher than occupied meadows, from seasonally flooded meadows in landscapes with surface coverage of permanent wetlands >50% to mesic inland meadows with almost no wetlands, and from sites with no low or medium shrubs to sites where diamondleaf willow (S. planifolia) composes up to 25% of vegetation cover (BJM). In coastal portion of central Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, most commonly found in moist graminoid dwarf-shrub communities dominated by Alaska bog willow and sedge (Carex rariflora); vegetation structure is even and about 25 cm high. Near Kanagayak (20–25 km from Bering Sea coast), also found in moist, nontussock sedge, dwarf shrub, fruticose lichen communities near wetlands. Farther inland, particularly in Nulato Hills, locally common in dwarf-shrub meadows dominated by tussock-forming sedges Eriophorum vaginatum and/or Carex bigelowii, often in association with lichens and low shrubs (BJM).

On Seward Peninsula, found in both northern and southern uplands using gently sloping dwarf-shrub meadows, often near wetlands; rare breeder in level wet lowlands both near coast and inland (Kessel 1989 Kessel, B. (1989). Birds of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Their Biogeography, Seasonality and Natural History. University of Alaska Press, Fairbanks, AK, USA. Close ). In nw. Alaska, found in tussock-dwarf-shrub meadows at low to intermediate elevations (White and Boyce 1978 White, C. M. and Jr. Boyce, D. A. (1978). A profile of various rivers and their raptor populations in western Alaska, 1977. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Bureau Land Manage. Close , Gill et al. 1996a Gill, Jr., R. E., M. T. Schroeder and J. M. Schnorr. (1996a). An assessment of the breeding status of Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis) and other montane nesting shorebirds within Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska. Anchorage: Natl. Biol. Surv., Alaska Sci. Center. Close , REG).

In n. Alaska, from coast (at least near Colville River delta; Pitelka 1974 Pitelka, F. A. (1974). An avifaunal review for the Barrow region and North Slope of Arctic Alaska. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 6:161–184. Close ) inland ≥100 km to northern foothills of Brooks Range (Bailey 1948 Bailey, A. M. (1948). Birds of Arctic Alaska. Colorado Museum of Natural History, Popular Series 8. Close , Cotter and Andres 2000 Cotter, P. A. and B. A. Andres. (2000). Nesting density of shorebirds inland from the Beaufort Sea Coast, Alaska. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114:287-291. Close , T. Swem pers. comm.). At inland sites across most of n. Alaska, occurs in areas dominated by moist tussock tundra, usually near wetlands, often in association with dwarf, low, and/or medium shrub thickets (Cotter and Andres 2000 Cotter, P. A. and B. A. Andres. (2000). Nesting density of shorebirds inland from the Beaufort Sea Coast, Alaska. Canadian Field-Naturalist 114:287-291. Close , T. Swem and P. Martin pers. comm., BJM). On coastal plain of n. Alaska, uses wet sedge meadows (Rothe et al. 1981 Rothe, T. C., C. J. Markon, L. L. Hawkins and P. S. Koehl. (1981). Waterbird populations and habitats of the Colville River delta, Alaska: 1981 summary report. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Close , Garner and Reynolds 1986 Garner, G. W. and P. E. Reynolds. (1986). "Birds." In Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain Assessment: final report baseline study of the fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Close , J. Bart pers. comm.). Selects for aquatic sedge throughout snow-free season; during breeding specifically, also selects for areas with open water, sedge meadows, and dwarf shrubs (Field 1993 Field, R. (1993). Bird-habitat associations on the coastal plain of northcentral Alaska. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Close ). On Colville River delta, usually in mosaic of wetlands and slightly elevated moist habitat; most foraging in shallow flooded areas (J. Bart pers. comm.). Such sites include wet sedge troughs and meadows (primarily C. aquatilis) adjacent to low center polygon rims (P. Miller and M. North pers. comm.) and, in high-water channels, swales of wet sedge adjacent to low benches of Dryas and Salix (K. Moitoret pers. comm.). May also be locally common in old (i.e., vegetated) dunes in this area (K. Moitoret pers. comm.).

Palearctic

Habitat structure generally similar to Alaska. Often coastal, but as in n. Alaska, absent from some coastal areas within longitudinal range. Also occurs inland and/or at higher elevations as well; often uses mosaic of wetland and low upland habitats (B. Tucker in Cramp and Simmons 1983 Cramp, S., and K. E. L. Simmons (1983). The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Volume 3: Waders to Gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close , Byrkjedal et al. 1989 Byrkjedal, I., T. Larsen and J. Moldsvar. (1989). Sexual and antagonistic behaviour of Bar-tailed Godwits on the breeding grounds. Ornis Scandinavica 20:169-175. Close , Larsen and Moldsvor 1992 Larsen, T. and J. Moldsvor. (1992). Antipredator behavior and breeding associations of Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrels. Auk 109 (3):601-608. Close , Yésou et al. 1992 Yésou, P., I. I. Chupin and V. I. Grabovsky. (1992). Notes on the breeding biology of the Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica in Taimyr. Wader Study Group Bulletin 66:45-47. Close ). Unlike Alaska, however, occasionally found in sparsely wooded areas, including stunted birch (Betula sp.; Byrkjedal et al. 1989 Byrkjedal, I., T. Larsen and J. Moldsvar. (1989). Sexual and antagonistic behaviour of Bar-tailed Godwits on the breeding grounds. Ornis Scandinavica 20:169-175. Close ) and open larch (Larix sp.; Piersma et al. 1996c Piersma, T., J. van Gils, and P. Wiersma (1996). Family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, Editors). Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 444–533. Close ) woodlands near bogs and wetlands. Latter habitats structurally more similar to those occupied by Hudsonian Godwit in North America (Williamson and Smith 1964 Williamson, F. S. L., and M. A. Smith (1964). The distribution and breeding status of the Hudsonian Godwit in Alaska. Condor 66:41-50. Close , Hagar 1966 Hagar, J. A. (1966). Nesting of the Hudsonian Godwit at Churchill, Manitoba. Living Bird 5:5-43. Close , McCaffery and Harwood 2000 McCaffery, B. J., and C. M. Harwood (2000). Status of Hudsonian Godwits on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Western Birds 31:165–177. Close ).

North America

Spring and fall, uses intertidal mudflats or sand flats at river mouths, along bay and ocean shorelines, on offshore shoals, and in estuaries; may use nearby coastal meadows (both low and upland) for roosting and/or feeding (Kessel 1989 Kessel, B. (1989). Birds of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Their Biogeography, Seasonality and Natural History. University of Alaska Press, Fairbanks, AK, USA. Close , Gill and Handel 1990 Gill, Jr., R. E. and C. M. Handel. (1990). The importance of subarctic intertidal habitats to shorebirds: a case study of the central Yukon-Kuskokwim delta, Alaska. Condor 92:709-725. Close , McCaffery 1998b McCaffery, B. J. (1998b). Implications of frequent habitat switches in foraging Bar-tailed Godwits. Auk 115:494-497. Close , Gill and McCaffery 1999 Gill, Jr., R. E. and B. J. McCaffery. (1999). Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in Alaska: a population estimate from the staging grounds. Wader Study Group Bulletin 88:49-54. Close ). At low tide, occupied mudflats vary in width from few dozen meters to several kilometers. In n. Alaska, however, postbreeding birds use primarily aquatic sedge meadows and generally avoid mudflats (Field 1993 Field, R. (1993). Bird-habitat associations on the coastal plain of northcentral Alaska. Anchorage, AK: U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Close , Andres 1994a Andres, B. A. (1994a). Coastal zone use by postbreeding shorebirds in northern Alaska. Journal of Wildlife Management 58:206-213. Close ). In Jul on Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, adults with volant young using very shallow freshwater wetlands at Kgun Lake (100 km inland from Bering Sea) may have been local breeders (C. Harwood pers. comm.).

Elsewhere

Primary habitats similar to Alaska nonbreeding (i.e., intertidal mudflats and sand flats; less frequently, coastal meadows and marshes) during both migration and boreal winter (Cramp and Simmons 1983 Cramp, S., and K. E. L. Simmons (1983). The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Volume 3: Waders to Gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close , Zwarts 1988 Zwarts, L. (1988). Numbers and distribution of coastal waders in Guinea-Bissau. Ardea 76:42-55. Close , Higgins and Davies 1996 Higgins, P. J., and S. J. J. F. Davies (editors). (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic birds. Volume 3. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Close , Piersma et al. 1996c Piersma, T., J. van Gils, and P. Wiersma (1996). Family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, Editors). Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 444–533. Close ). Habitats used less frequently include mangrove (Avicennia)-fringed lagoons (Zwarts 1988 Zwarts, L. (1988). Numbers and distribution of coastal waders in Guinea-Bissau. Ardea 76:42-55. Close , Piersma et al. 1996c Piersma, T., J. van Gils, and P. Wiersma (1996). Family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, Editors). Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 444–533. Close ), shallow salt pans (Cramp and Simmons 1983 Cramp, S., and K. E. L. Simmons (1983). The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Volume 3: Waders to Gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and, in Australasia, piled seagrass, salt marsh, sewage farms, sandy ocean beaches, rock platforms, coral reefs, Olearia forest, and (especially after rains) inland wetlands and fields (including farms, paddocks, and airstrips; Higgins and Davies 1996 Higgins, P. J., and S. J. J. F. Davies (editors). (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic birds. Volume 3. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Close ).