Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
We can find Marbled Godwits year round in San Diego. Non-breeders will often spend the summers along the east, west coasts, and Gulf of North America, Mexico, and northern Central America. Breeding occurs in the prairie region at the center of the North American continent, in southwestern Alaska and by James Bay at the south end of Hudson Bay.
Most shorebirds feed entirely on invertebrate prey items. During migrations, Marbled Godwits forage on plant tubers.
Science recognises two subspecies:
- L. f. fedoa breeds in the prairies of the northern USA and south-central Canada, and near James Bay in Manitoba (Canada).
- L. f. beringiae is a small population that breeds on the Alaska Peninsula near the Bering Sea.
When I passed through Anchorage (Alaska) in 2005, I stopped south of town to survey the mudflats along Turnagain Arm. The mudflats there are expansive because of the extreme tides at high latitudes. There were shorebirds in great numbers, and most were Marbled Godwits. I know now these were the subspecies L. f. beringiae. The nominate subspecies L. f. fedoa would have been far out of their range.
In San Diego we see these birds mostly in winter, but quite a few non-breeding birds remain with us through the summer.
31 Photos
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Morning gathering at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 14:30 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X1035-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Foraging at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:44 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1346-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:08 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/8 |
File Name: D3X4426-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:09 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/5 |
File Name: D3X4427-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:12 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/13 |
File Name: D3X4429-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:35 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD0789MarbledGodwit |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:43 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD0812MarbledGodwit |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: High tide is loafing time on North Mission Bay by the Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve. San Diego County California USA 2008-11-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:02 10:24 |
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Location:
Kendall-Frost Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/350 |
File Name: jcd0962MarbledGodwit |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Juvenile at the beach at Border Field. The most extreme Southwest corner of the USA. San Diego County, California USA 2008-10-05. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:05 11:33 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 |
File Name: jcd2258MarbledGodwit.Juvenile |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) At rest with Willets. South San Diego Bay, California USA 2006-03-16. |
Date Taken: 2006:03:16 9:21 |
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Location:
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD2310-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-07. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:07 8:04 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD6161.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California USA 2010-02-18. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:18 11:21 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD6750.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California USA 2010-02-18. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:18 11:21 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Estuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3000 |
File Name: Cut_JCD6750.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:35 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD0789MarbledGodwit |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: High tide is loafing time on North Mission Bay by the Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve. San Diego County California USA 2008-11-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:07 16:31 |
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Location:
Kendall-Frost Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: jcd0908MarbledGodwit |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Flying over the slough on South San Diego Bay at 7th Street in Imperial Beach California, San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 8:13 |
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Location:
7th Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X78367thStreetSlough |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Salton Sea in Imperial County, near Poe Road. Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:16 14:44 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D720573-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Willets and Marbled Godwits often associate closely with each other. Seen while visiting the Salton Sea along the south-eastern shoreline. Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:30 14:18 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5D2694 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Flying with Long-billed Dowitchers near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:22 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6863-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The mouth of the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:23 11:32 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey Rivermouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X0278-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:04 10:52 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X3693-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Luis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 9:02 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X4160-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:08 10:00 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X8653-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Willets and Marbled Godwits often associate closely with each other. Seen while visiting the Salton Sea along the south-eastern shoreline. Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:30 14:18 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5D2694 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 13:09 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8503929-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 12:28 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8503873-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 13:14 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8504069-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Juis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 9:02 |
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Location:
Morro Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X4154-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Luis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 8:58 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X4083-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits and Willets congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 12:30 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8503902-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Keeping company with their best friends, the Willets. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 15:05 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X8888-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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