Black-Tailed Godwit / Limosa limosa / 黑尾塍鷸 [Explore]

[CORRECTION: This is a Black-Tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage), not a Bar-Tailed Godwit, as pointed out below in one of the comments. Thank you VaughanG. The Black-Tailed Godwit is a common winter and uncommon summer visitor to Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the write-up below regarding the incredible migration of the Bar-Tailed Godwit remains valid, and is worth reading, only if to demonstrate that birds are truly amazing creatures !]

 

Weighing only about 500 grams, the humble Bar-Tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage shown in this image) is the holder of two world records in the animal kingdom;

 

1) Longest known non-stop flight of any bird; and,

 

2) Longest journey without pausing to feed by any animal.

 

Both records were accomplished by a Bar-Tailed Godwit numbered 234684, which left Alaska on 13 October 2022 and flew non-stop arriving in Tasmania on 24 October.*

 

Godwit 234684 flew an astonishing minimum distance of 13,560 km (8,430 mi) in 11 days and 1 hour: a record non-stop distance.*

 

(The Bar-Tailed Godwit is an uncommon passage migrant and occasional winter visitor to Hong Kong.)

 

Thank you for your interest, views, faves, comments and awards ! This image was captured in Hong Kong 香港, and is copyright ©️ Rick C. Graham.

 

*Source: Bird Guides. com

 

www.birdguides.com/news/young-godwit-sets-new-flight-record

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