Body dimensions and mass of breeding and hatched Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa l. Limosa): a comparison between a West Siberian and a Dutch population

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).