Sand Piper On The Beach, Florida, Hudsonian Godwit Limosa Haemastica Stock Photo

The Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica is a large shorebird in the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae. The genus name Limosa is from Latin and means `muddy`, from limus, `mud`. The specific haemastica is from Ancient Greek and means `bloody`. An 18th century name for this bird was red-breasted godwit. The English term `godwit` was first recorded in about 1416 and is believed to imitate the bird`s call.