Skip to main content
godwit

godwit

1 9.8
A large water bird with a long, slightly upturned bill that feeds in shallow water
  • noun
  • /ˈɡɒd.wɪt/
: aguja
  • PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): A black-tailed godwit (migrant) hunts in a lagoon (Bundala Sanctuary).
  • a marbled godwit
  • godwit and whimbrel

Examples

  • At the wetland, we spotted a beautiful godwit wading through the shallow water.

  • For example, godwit eggs, if they get cold, start to chirp.

  • The godwit is known for its long, slightly upturned bill, which helps it search for food in mud.

  • During migration, the godwit flies thousands of miles to reach its breeding grounds.

Synonyms

Limosa
vsgodwit
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of large wading birds called godwits

is the common name used for these birds rather than the scientific genus

Compounds

Hudsonian godwit
  • Specialized
9.9

A large shorebird from the Americas that flies long distances and has long legs and a slightly upturned bill

Surface Forms

godwit singular
godwits plural

Etymology

Godwit is an old English name for this long-billed wading bird. Its exact origin is unclear, but a helpful way to remember it is to think of god + wit ('good' + 'knowing') or as a name that copies the bird's call. That's why we still call this migratory wetland bird a godwit.