Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Afrikaans | Hudsonbaaigriet |
Bulgarian | Канадски крайбрежен бекас |
Catalan | tètol de Hudson |
Croatian | američka muljača |
Czech | břehouš aljašský |
Danish | Canadisk Kobbersneppe |
Dutch | Rode Grutto |
English | Hudsonian Godwit |
English (United States) | Hudsonian Godwit |
Finnish | eskimokuiri |
French | Barge hudsonienne |
French (France) | Barge hudsonienne |
German | Hudsonschnepfe |
Greek | Αμερικανική Λιμόζα |
Haitian Creole (Haiti) | Kouli vant blanch |
Hebrew | לימוזה אמריקנית |
Hungarian | Feketeszárnyú goda |
Icelandic | Mýrajaðrakan |
Japanese | アメリカオグロシギ |
Korean | 캐나다흑꼬리도요 |
Lithuanian | Kanadinis griciukas |
Norwegian | svartvingespove |
Polish | szlamnik amerykański |
Portuguese (Brazil) | maçarico-de-bico-virado |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Maçaricão-de-bico-virado |
Romanian | Sitar de mal cu aripi negre |
Russian | Канадский веретенник |
Serbian | Američka muljača |
Slovak | brehár jarabý |
Slovenian | Pepelasti kljunač |
Spanish | Aguja Café |
Spanish (Argentina) | Becasa de Mar |
Spanish (Chile) | Zarapito de pico recto |
Spanish (Costa Rica) | Aguja Lomiblanca |
Spanish (Cuba) | Avoceta pechirroja |
Spanish (Dominican Republic) | Barga Aliblanca |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Aguja Hudsoniana (de Hudson) |
Spanish (Honduras) | Picopando del Este |
Spanish (Mexico) | Picopando del Este |
Spanish (Panama) | Aguja Lomiblanca |
Spanish (Paraguay) | Becasa de mar |
Spanish (Peru) | Aguja de Mar |
Spanish (Puerto Rico) | Barga Aliblanca |
Spanish (Spain) | Aguja café |
Spanish (Uruguay) | Becasa de Mar |
Spanish (Venezuela) | Becasa de Mar |
Swedish | hudsonspov |
Turkish | Hudson Çamurçulluğu |
Ukrainian | Грицик канадський |
Revision Notes
Gabriela Contreras revised the account as part of a partnership with the Red de Observadores de Aves de Chile (ROC). Peter Pyle contributed to the Plumages, Molts, and Structure page. Guy M. Kirwan contributed to the Systematics page. Daphne K. Walmer, Robin K. Murie, and JoAnn Hackos copyedited the account. Arnau Bonan Barfull curated the media. Eliza Wein updated the distribution map.
Limosa haemastica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Definitions
- LIMOSA
- limosa
- haemastica
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica Scientific name definitions
Version: 1.1 — Published February 9, 2024
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Vocalizations
Development
The first peeps are audible when eggs start to crack, about 3–4 d before hatching. As soon as the chick dries, it utters a contact note peep and can utter distress call tsseee . Parents appear to vocalize persistently while chicks are agitated, potentially in an effort to cover up the chick distress calls and make localization of the sound more difficult (Senner et al., unpublished data).
Vocal Array
There are no systematic studies of vocalization behavior; the most comprehensive descriptions are by Hagar (2). The most often heard vocalizations stem from two basic calls: toe-wit (also rendered as qu-wit, or god-wit) and whit.
Toe-wit Call
The toe-wit call incorporates several harmonics, varying in frequency from at least 1 to 7 kHz, with frequency rising on the second syllable of the call and each call lasting at least 0.2 s (Figure 2A). This call is used in various circumstances: on breeding grounds given singly during feeding, roosting, and other maintenance activities; quiet versions of the slow, repetitive sequence of phrases used by females prior to copulation (JK; see Sexual Behavior); a soft, quiet, and unaccented toe-wit, toe-wit is used by either parent to lead chicks out of the nest. Both parents give long sequences of toe-wit calls from the nest on the day of hatch; this call may vary greatly in volume but is never agitated and can last several minutes. It is typically the first call heard in the morning; it may be repeated later in the day. Harsher and louder version are also used when a potential predator approaches. For example, by males when the feeding pair is approached by a human during the egg-laying period; the call might become louder and faster as the person nears. Both sexes use a loud and agitated variation while chasing off avian predators (mainly the Common Raven (Corvus corax)and Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)) from the vicinity of the nest or when humans approach too closely (2, JK). Generally, female's calls are lower, deeper, and harsher than male's (JK).
Long sequences of toe-wit calls , strongly accented on the second syllable, form the basis of the song, which can be repeated by displaying male constantly for several minutes, with at least 60–100 phrases/min (Figure 2A, 2). Toe-wits are often preceded by 1 or several whits. A song sequence initiated in flight may be continued after landing on the ground or in a tree, without breaking the rhythm (JK). Rarely, a displaying bird will utter a few phrases, or an entire series of notes that are about an octave higher than the rest of the song. Songs of different individuals differ slightly (2). The song presumably functions in mate selection, maintenance of pair bonds, and perhaps territory defense, but is little studied.
When alarmed, the Hudsonian Godwit issues a whit call, often given in pairs or short series. The call incorporates several separate harmonics, which range in frequency from about 1.3 to 11.5 kHz, with the frequency of each component rising and then falling; each note lasts 0.1–0.2 s. The exact nature of these whit notes is quite variable, as is spacing between notes (Figure 2B-E). The whit call may be given repeatedly, 4–10 times/min, by a bird with chicks that senses danger; sometimes expanded to whee'-wit or whee'-wee-wit, with a rising inflection on the first syllable. As perceived danger nears, calling rate rises to > 60 calls/min: whit, whit, whee'-wit, whit, whit, whit, whit, whit, whee'-wit. Whit calls are accompanied by a quick retraction and extension of the neck, a counterbalancing flick of the tail, and an opening of the bill (2).
A single whit note is often heard at the beginning of a series of toe-wit phrases, and incubating birds very rarely respond to flight calls of conspecifics by uttering whit calls from the nest in perfect synchrony with toe-wits of the flying bird. When feeding, bathing, or preening, birds may utter short-range contact notes wheet, wheet, softer and not as loud as song or alarm calls (JK). When a pair feeds together, each member may call when it gets to a place especially rich in food; the call is often given with the bill slightly open, sometimes partially immersed in the water.
In addition to vocalizations based on these two basic calls, the Hudsonian Godwit makes a number of other sounds during the breeding season. For example, a loud and harsh, rasping squawk is delivered by individuals if flushed from eggs, or by parents when a human catches or picks up a chick. Loud calls and shrills might be uttered intermittently with various hissing sounds. While chasing avian predators from aerial vicinity of a nest, a toe-wit call is given when danger is close, and whit when the predator leaves the vicinity of the nest.
Landing Call
Upon landing, both sexes frequently give a harsh, sharp, squawking chchcheeck, repeated almost constantly for up to 1 min. On breeding grounds, this call is uttered after almost every landing until the chicks hatch, but because it is not loud, it easily escapes human attention. This landing call is often followed by a series of 20–30 toe-wits, repeated slightly more often than 1/s, with no breaks between calls, uttered with the bill only slightly open. This call is usually associated with the presence of a conspecific within audible range. The chchcheeck call is sometimes replaced by a series of single kik calls (JK). Figure 2F shows the terminal notes of a landing call.
Various other calls are given less often. Adults produce a drone that is not very loud but dynamic, especially toward the end, with later phrases fast and descending: toe-wit, toe-wit, toe-wit, toe-wit, toe-wit, toe-wit, qula, qula, qula, qula, babababababa; or toe-wit, toe-wit, toe-wit, durby, durby, durby. This vocalization is given in flight or from the ground. Adults also use various quiet calls and harsh whispers, usually uttered in a series, and often audible only from very nearby; these calls may be uttered with a closed bill, although the throat can be seen vibrating (JK). Males may give a chattering call after copulation (CSE). Adults use a soft, quiet cuck-cuck-cuck-cuck-cuck to call chicks for brooding during the first few days of life (2); chicks regularly give peep contact notes, and a tsseee note when stressed.
Nonbreeding birds are generally quiet. Calls closely resemble those of all other species of godwit (2), but are higher pitched (155). When disturbed, the Hudsonian Godwit may give calls (rendered as qua qua, 37; ta-whit, 10) resembling those of the Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa), but higher pitched and softer (W. Rowan in 31, 10). One call is rendered as chow chow and considered similar to a Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)'s call, although softer and less strident, but quite unlike the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) (11). The flight call is described as a high kwid'wid or kweh-weh with rising syllables; individuals are also heard to give high week or kwee notes reminiscent of, but softer than, a Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus); 155).
Geographic Variation
No information on geographic variation among populations.
Phenology
On breeding grounds, the intensity of displays and singing increases after a day or two of prolonged resting periods immediately after arrival and persists at a high level through the egg-laying period (2, L. Tibbitts, personal communication, CSE, Senner et al. unpublished data). Displays and singing subsequently diminish in frequency until late in the incubation period or if the nest has failed and males are attempting to renest; other vocalizations are given in appropriate context throughout breeding season (Senner et al. unpublished data). The bird rarely calls during migration (W. Rowan in 31).
Daily Pattern of Vocalizing
At Churchill, Manitoba, the Hudsonian Godwit is the first shorebird species to vocalize and display at sunrise. After dawn, vocal activity drops before markedly increasing again around 0800–0900 h. High vocal activity lasts for several hours thereafter. Early in spring, vocalization and displaying are suppressed by inclement weather (J. R. Jehl, Jr., personal communication, JK). No vocalizations heard during several nights of observations prior to hatching (JK).
At Susitna Flats, daily routine often follows the tidal cycle, as adults frequently travel to forage in intertidal habitats throughout the day. Toe-wit calls and display flights are undertaken as males return to their territories following a feeding bout in the intertidal area. Groups of males frequently return to their breeding territories simultaneously and co-display or engage in aggressive interactions. Females instead generally return to territories silently (Senner et al., unpublished data)
Places of Vocalizing
Song is usually given during flight display, but also from treetop perches. Various calls are given from the ground, in flight, and from treetops.
Repertoire and Delivery of Songs
Length and delivery of song varies, both within and among individuals; often only a short version of the typical song is given (JK).
Social Context and Presumed Functions
In general, functions are presumed based on context or studies of other species; there is little objective evidence for any.
Nonvocal Sounds
None are known to have a communicative function. Sound is made by wind passing over partially folded wings when the bird dives toward the ground at the end of display flights; this sound is presumably similar to that produced by other godwits during nose dives (e.g., 17).