Male and female bar-tailed godwits look similar in non-breeding plumage, but females are larger. This species of godwit has a slightly upturned bill with a pink base. The head and neck is streaked and mottled. In flight a “V” is visible and extends far up the back. This godwit species lacks a white wingbar.

Bar-tailed godwit’s breed in the Arctic north of 65°N. Their breeding range extends from northern Europe through Siberia to western Alaska. The non-breeding grounds for this species stretches from the coasts of Western Europe down to South Africa and east through the Middle-East, south and south-east Asia to Australia and New Zealand. The first record of this species in South Africa was back in 1912.

These birds arrive in October and leave in April. Some juvenile and immature birds overwinter. . The southern African population estimate is around 10 000 – 12 000 birds. Bar-tailed godwits use three main migration routes to Africa with the birds arriving in southern Africa likely using the route along the east African coast and Rift Valley. The highest numbers in southern Africa are on the west coast (central and northern Namibia and southwestern Cape). In the Western Cape, the highest numbers occur along the Groot Berg River Estuary and Langebaan Lagoon.

These birds are found in flocks mainly along estuaries and lagoons on soft sediments such as sand and mudflats. These birds show long-term fidelity to their non-breeding areas which means the birds keep going back to same spot. This means it is likely many of the godwits seen during summer are the same birds that keep returning year after year. These birds are relatively uncommon during spring and summer along the Breede with numbers less than 10 often recorded.

They feed at water’s edge of intertidal mud and sandflats and will venture into water up to approximately 150 mm deep. The bar-tailed godwit primarily feeds on polychaete worms (bristle worms) with molluscs, crustaceans and fish fry also taken.

These birds first start breeding at 2-3 years old. The oldest known bird was 31 years and 4 months old. The bar-tailed godwit is listed as near-threatened with current worldwide population trend decreasing. The bar-tailed godwit is believed to have the longest non-stop migratory flight of any terrestrial bird-at 11600 km. These birds travel from Alaska to New Zealand.