Marbled Godwit Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMarbled Godwit
Breeding adult
Large shorebird with a slightly upturned bicolored bill. Breeding birds are barred above and below.
© Jeff Timmons / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, June 22, 2017Nonbreeding adult/immature
Long-legged shorebird with very long, slightly upturned, bicolored bill. Nonbreeding birds have unstreaked cinnamon washed underparts.
© Frank Lehman / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 02, 2016Nonbreeding/immature with Sanderling
Uses its very long bill to probe into wet sand of beaches and mudflats, reaching deeper than other shorebirds can manage.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 25, 2011Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult/immature
In flight, note cinnamon washed underwings.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 25, 2018Nonbreeding adult/immature
Tall shorebird with a long, slightly upturned bicolored bill.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Breeding adult (with Long-billed Curlew)
Smaller than a Long-billed Curlew with a long, slightly upturned bill.
© Suzanne Odum / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 23, 2017Breeding adult
Breeds in short grassy areas, marshes, and flooded plains. Forages in grasslands and abandoned pastures.
© Daniel Casey / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 25, 2015Habitat
During migration and winter found in coastal mudflats, wet meadows, estuaries, and sandy beaches.
© Carl Giometti 🍹 / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, April 28, 2017Similar SpeciesBar-tailed Godwit
Breeding adult
Bar-tailed Godwits are smaller than Marbled Godwits. Breeding birds have a cinnamon neck and underparts unlike breeding Marbled Godwits.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryFinnmark, June 14, 2015Similar SpeciesBar-tailed Godwit
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding Bar-tailed Godwits have a streaked gray back whereas nonbreeding Marbled Godwits have a marbled brown back.
© Peter Taylor / Macaulay LibraryQueensland, December 27, 2016Similar SpeciesBlack-tailed Godwit
Breeding adult
The rare Black-tailed Godwit has a rusty-colored neck whereas the neck on Marbled Godwits is brownish.
© Paul Tavares / Macaulay LibrarySuðurland, July 06, 2011Similar SpeciesBlack-tailed Godwit
Nonbreeding adult
The rare Black-tailed Godwit during the nonbreeding season has a plain gray back while Marbled Godwit has a marbled back.
© Thibaud Aronson / Macaulay LibraryAnuradhapura, January 11, 2015Similar SpeciesWhimbrel
Adult (Hudsonian)
Whimbrels have a bill that curves downward not slightly upward like Marbled Godwits. They also have stripes on their head which Marbled Godwits lack.
© Hans Spiecker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 13, 2017Similar SpeciesLong-billed Curlew
Adult
Long-billed Curlews have a longer bill that curves downward not slightly upward like Marbled Godwits.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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