Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

General Status Rank: 
At Risk
ELCODE: 
ABNNF08020
Common Name: 
Hudsonian Godwit
Scientific Name: 
Limosa haemastica
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Charadriiformes
Family: 
Scolopacidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

nonhunted species
References: 
H125
Habitat
wet tundra
References: 
B004
H125
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic, Taiga Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

4/164 (2%); maybe as much as 5%,breeding range further NE in NWT than previously thought (VJ11); Main breeding area in w. Canada appears to be along far northwestern shore of Northwest Territories, with breeding records from Mackenzie River delta and Anderson River valley; also breeds on West Mirage Is. in Great Slave Lake (Godfrey 1986). Found during summer in other parts of Northwest and Nunavut Territories, suggesting that additional breeding sites exist (MacFarlane 1891, Bent 1927, Trauger and Bromley 1976, Kuyt 1980, Salter et al. 1980).Small range in northern edge of NWT mainland, BCR 3 region. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: .2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
F
References: 
B004
H125
VJ11
B154
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern South America

Number of Occurrences

Prob. More than 21 sites
References: 
H125

Area of Occupancy

likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
VJ4
VJ12
R157
H306
Population

Population Size

North American pop = 77,000 and approx 1/3 of range is in NWT: so approx 26,00
Score: 
F
References: 
VJ13
A380
Trends

Trends

stable on parts of wintering grounds; declining migration counts in eastern NA (VJ4, VJ12, R157); Large decrease (low reliability) reported from shorebird migration monitoring (Status of Birds in Canada 2014 update, unpublished data provided by H306.; population trend information is lacking for the NWT, but thought to be experiencing moderate to high declines nationally (Hope et al. 2019, Status of birds in Canada, 2019). Considered a species of high concern by Hope et al. (2019).
Score: 
AF
References: 
VJ4
VJ12
R157
H306
Threats

Threats

likely limited in NWT and Nunavut
References: 
H125

Intrinsic Vulnerability

likely limited in NWT and Nunavut
Score: 
-
References: 
H125
General Status Rank
Rank: 
At Risk
Status Rank Description: 
small range in NWT but still includes about 50% of Canadian range, 1/3 of NA distribution, no info on NWT birds’ migration route or wintering area but some evidence of declines
S Rank: 
S2
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted as undetermined by Vicky Johnston and S. Carriere mostly based on printed material in 2000; modified to sensitive by Vicky Johnston in 2005 due to decline evidence.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; 2015 no change; Modified in 2020 from sensitive to At risk based on COSEWIC assessment, real increase risks.
Last Updated: 
September 17, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Threatened
Threatened - 2019

References

Area of Occupancy

  • CWS Shorebird Technical Committee (1999) unpublished appendices to CSCP. CWS CWS- Johnston's files - VJ4 Return
  • Bart, J, S. Brown, B. Harrington, and RIG Morrison. (2005) Population trends of North American shorebird.. Avian Biol. X:XX (in press) - VJ12 Return
  • Donaldson, G.M. et al. (2000) Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan. CWS 27 pp - R157 Return
  • Rausch, Jennie (2015) shorebird biologist, CWS Yellowknife - H306 Return

Economic Status

  • Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Hayman, P, J. Marchant and T. Prater (1986) Shorebirds- an Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin Company CWS- Johnston's files - VJ2 Return
,
Elphick, C. S., and J. Klima. (2002) Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica). In The Birds of North America,. No. 629 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. - B154 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return

Population Size

Morrison, RIG, BJ McCaffery, S. Skagen, B. Andres, G. Page, S. Jones, and RE Gill. (2005) Population estimates of North American shorebirds,2005. Draft MS. (CWS?) - VJ13 Return
,
Andres BA, Smith PA, Morrison RIG, Gratto-Trevor CL, Brown SC, and Friis, CA. (2012) Wader Study Group Bull. 119(3): 178-194.) - A380 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service (2005) NWT/Nunavut Checklist Survey Database.. , Yellowknife, NT - VJ11 Return
  • Elphick, C. S., and J. Klima. (2002) Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica). In The Birds of North America,. No. 629 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. - B154 Return

Short Term Trends

  • CWS Shorebird Technical Committee (1999) unpublished appendices to CSCP. CWS CWS- Johnston's files - VJ4 Return
  • Bart, J, S. Brown, B. Harrington, and RIG Morrison. (2005) Population trends of North American shorebird.. Avian Biol. X:XX (in press) - VJ12 Return
  • Donaldson, G.M. et al. (2000) Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan. CWS 27 pp - R157 Return
  • Rausch, Jennie (2015) shorebird biologist, CWS Yellowknife - H306 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return