This species gets its name from the black and white barring on the tail. In flight, the upper surface of the wing is gray-brown, slightly darker on the primary coverts, and lacks a wing stripe. The Siberian race shows black and white barring on the rump and lower back, and on the underside of the wing. The European race has a white rump and lower back, and white on the underside of the wing. Alternate Male: Upperparts are dark brown with buffy mottling. The long upturned bill is mostly black, with a pinkish base to the lower mandible. The face and underparts are unmarked rufous, lacking the barring found on other godwits. Alternate Female: Larger and much paler than male, with longer bill. Underparts pale rufous to whitish, with limited amount of dark barring. Basic Adult: Pale gray-brown overall with dark feather shafts producing streaks. Whitish supercilium and belly. Bill pink on basal half, dark on distal half. Juvenile: Upperparts gray-brown with strong pattern of white notches. Whitish supercilium and belly. Buffy wash on underparts.

Length: 37 (cm) Wingspan: 69 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a low kah-weet.

Habitat:

Arctic tundra, beaches, coastal mudflats.

Behavior:

Migrants may fly non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand.

Feeding:

Probes in the mud while wading.