The black-tailed godwit favors a range of wetland habitats for breeding, including fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands, and bogs. It is also known to adapt to human-altered landscapes such as wet grasslands and pastures.
This species has a broad breeding range that spans from Iceland across Europe to central Asia. During the northern hemisphere winter, it migrates to diverse regions including the Indian subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe, and west Africa.
The black-tailed godwit is a sociable bird, often seen migrating in flocks. It exhibits a strong fidelity to its breeding grounds, where pairs reunite each season with remarkable punctuality. If a mate is delayed, 'divorce' may ensue.
The most frequently heard call of the black-tailed godwit is a loud and insistent "weeka weeka weeka."
