Nm. Green et Ak. Yurlov, Body dimensions and mass of breeding and hatched Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa l. Limosa): a comparison between a West Siberian and a Dutch population, J ORNITHOL, 140(1), 1999, pp. 73-79
The breeding biology and habitat preference of the Black-tailed Godwit (Lim
osa l. limosa) was studied in the West Siberian forest-steppe in May and Ju
ne 1995. The godwits prefer reed and sedge marsh and edges of ponds and dep
ressions. They breed in small aggregations together with other waders such
as Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Redsh
ank (Tringa totanus), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and Great Snipe (G
allinago media). A remarkable resemblance of breeding birds was noticed bet
ween the Siberian steppe and the 'meadowbird' community as found in The Net
herlands in the 1950's. Comparisons of biometrics between Siberian and West
European Black-tailed godwits showed significant differences. Black-tailed
Godwits from Siberia are in all aspects larger than their European conspec
ifics. Egg Volumes and hatchling weights decreased in the course of the sea
son. Breeding success in 1995 was low owing to intense predation by Hooded
Crow (Corvus corone cornix) and Magpie (Pica pica).