addition, the largest winter ranges are the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts of the US and Mexico. Godwits breeding in the western USA and Canada follow a route through the Utah stopover site, with a final arrival in the winter sites of Mexico and the Caribbean. Species breeding in eastern Canada migrate across the US, and stopover at sites along the Gulf of California and Mexico. Furthermore, those breeding in North and South Dakota winter in coastal Georgia. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge located at Great Salt Lake in Utah (USA), is one of the most popular stopover sites for godwits in the spring and fall. Behavior and ecology Breeding They nest on the ground, usually in short grass. Food and feeding These birds forage by probing on mudflats, in marshes, or at the beach (see picture below). When the tide is out, they eat. In short grass, they may pick up insects by sight. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans, but also eat parts of aquatic plants. When the tide is in, they roost. They often sleep by standing on one leg and tucking their bill into their body (see picture below). Conservation Their numbers were reduced by hunting at the end of the 19th century. Although they had recovered somewhat since that time, their population has declined in recent times as suitable habitat is used for farming. Gallery References External links Marbled Godwit Species Accounty - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter Shorebirds marbled godwit Birds of the Dominican Republic Birds of the Caribbean Native birds of the Canadian Prairies Native birds of the Plains-Midwest (United States) marbled godwit marbled godwit