Bar-tailed Godwit | Kuaka
The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), known as Kuaka in Māori, is a large, long-legged wader that breeds in the Arctic and migrates to New Zealand for the winter. They are recognized by their distinctive red breeding plumage, long legs, and long upturned bill.
The Bar-tailed Godwit is known for its incredible migration, with some individuals flying non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand, covering over 11,000 kilometers in one continuous flight. This is the longest known non-stop flight of any bird.
In New Zealand, the Bar-tailed Godwit is commonly found in estuaries and coastal areas, where they feed on bristle-worms and shellfish.
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IMG_6397E | Male Bar-tailed godwit | Kuaka
IMG_6391E | Female Bar-tailed godwit | Kuaka