This elegant bird is easily recognised by its long, straight, black-tipped bill and tall, graceful stature. Its winter plumage transforms from the vibrant orange tones of summer to a muted yet beautiful mix of grey and white, helping it blend seamlessly into the muddy estuarine habitats it favours during winter.

Standing at up to 44cm tall with a wingspan of up to 70cm, black-tailed godwits are larger than many waders. In flight, their striking features include broad white wing bars, a bold white rump, and a black tail, which give them their name. These features, along with their long legs trailing beyond the tail, make them unmistakable in the air. On the ground, their feeding behaviour is just as distinctive. Using their long bills, they expertly probe deep into the mud for worms, molluscs and insects, often wading belly-deep in estuarine waters​.

Each winter, approximately 12,400 black-tailed godwits migrate to the UK from their breeding grounds in Iceland, joining smaller numbers of European breeders that visit in autumn.

The UK's breeding black-tailed godwits winter in Africa, while the birds that spend their winters on the south coast of the UK nest in Iceland. Those that nest in Iceland are actually a different subspecies (Limosa limosa islandica) to those that breed in the rest of Europe (Limosa limosa limosa).

In Hampshire, on winter days, large flocks of black-tailed godwits can sometimes be seen feeding alongside dunlin, brent geese, and grey plover. Farlington Marshes Nature Reserve provides a mix of lagoons and grazing marshes which attracts godwits and other waders. Whilst Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve also provides shallow waters rich in invertebrates. These internationally significant coastal marshes provide abundant food and safe roosting areas. The floodplain meadows and marshes in and around Lower Test Nature Reserve sometimes hosts individuals during harsh weather​. Inland sightings are less common but not unheard of.

The black-tailed godwit is currently not classified as endangered, but its population is experiencing declines, particularly in Europe. Threats to the species include habitat loss due to agricultural intensification, wetland drainage, and disturbance from human activities. Conservation efforts, including those from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, are focused on protecting their essential wintering habitats.