Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult juvenile
2009-06-14 Birzhankol lake, Bayanaul region, Pavlodar oblast 2010-08-15 Dzhambyoba lake, Pavlodar region, Pavlodar oblast	© Sergei Titov © Oleg Lyakhov

Distribution

Breeds in northern part of Kazakhstan, in south to Kamysh-Samar lakes, lower reaches of Irgiz, upper reaches of Sarysu river, and Alakol depression. On migration occurs everywhere, except the waterless and highland areas.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the wet meadows, grassy shores of lakes and rivers, the flooded grassy lands, and rarer the wet saline soil lands near lakes. In spring appears in end March - April, in flocks up to one hundred birds. Most birds arrive in April, migration finishes in early – mid-May. Breeds in separate pairs or in loose colonies of up to 10 pairs, often together with other waders. Nest is built in shallow hole and is lined with some old grass; nest is located mostly on the dry soil, but nests located on the wet soil are thick and bulky. Laying of 4 eggs is in end of April to early June. Both parents incubate and care for juveniles which are born in the end of May – early June, and fledge in the end of June – July. Autumn migration is in end July – August, latest birds were observed in end September.

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.