Marbled Godwit

Status Rare transient. The species was first recorded for Nova Scotia on 15 April 1915 by Louis B. Bishop who received a specimen from taxidermist Robert P. Searle of Halifax, who told him that the bird had been taken at Sambro Light, Halifax County, but gave no date (Piers' notes). It was next reported by Harrison F. Lewis who saw two near the Sable River estuary, Shelburne County, on 8 September 1953, the day following hurricane "Carol."

Since then, there have been 15 more sightings, almost all of single birds and all but four occurring in August or September. The earliest were four near Pictou on 1 August 1961 (E. Holdway); late individuals were on 17-24 October 1964 at Cole Harbour, Halifax County, and on 14 November 1964 at Glace Bay. On 29 September 1962 the remarkable number of about 25 of these birds was seen on Cape Sable by Betty June and Sidney Smith. Although it is possible that the 1915 specimen should be referred to as a bird of the previous fall, there is a definite spring record of one on 8 June 1979 on Sable Island.

Remarks A large (40-50 cm) brown godwit, this species has cinnamon-brown wing linings, is uniformly buffy gray above, evenly marbled with black, and has no white rump patch or wing stripe. It breeds in the northern Great Plains and on James Bay and normally migrates primarily through western North America to Central and South America, with some birds wintering in the southern United States. It is quite regular on the east coast of the United States in fall.