Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
The Hudsonian Godwit is a large, elegant shorebird with long legs and a slightly upturned bill. In breeding plumage, it displays rich chestnut underparts and a striking white wing stripe visible in flight. This species breeds in the subarctic wetlands of North America and migrates thousands of kilometers to spend the austral summer in southern South America, including Patagonia. Its migration is among the most impressive in the avian world, with some individuals flying nonstop for over 6,000 kilometers. The Hudsonian Godwit is often seen in Patagonian wetlands and coastal mudflats during the southern summer, where it feeds and regains strength before its return journey north. Its populations are considered near threatened due to habitat loss and changes in wetland ecosystems.
Habitat
Patagonian coastal mudflats, estuaries, and inland wetlands during the austral summer.
Foraging
Feeds by probing mud and shallow water for insects, worms, and crustaceans.