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Breeding Range (Fig. 69). Fairly common on the Missouri Coteau; uncommon on the Northeastern, Southern, and Northwestern Drift Plains; uncommon and local in the Agassiz Lake Plain Region (largely restricted to areas of sand plain, particularly in Grand Forks, Ransom, and Richland Counties), and on the Coteau Slope; rare on the Missouri Slope.

Breeding Habitat. Wetlands inhabited by this species include intermittent streams and various types of ponds and lakes that range in salinity from fresh to strongly saline. The habitats occupied by 125 breeding pairs during 1965-1969 were recorded (H. A. Kantrud, RES). These birds were distributed as follows: semipermanent ponds and lakes, 50 percent; seasonal ponds and lakes, 36 percent; alkali ponds and lakes, 10 percent; and miscellaneous wetlands, 4 percent.

Nesting. Breeding season: Mid-April to mid-July; peak, early May to late June. Extreme egg dates (13 nests): April 17 [1970] to June 22 [1970] in Stutsman County (L. M. Kirsch). Extreme dates of dependent young (7 broods): June 7 [1963] in Stutsman County to July 18 [1966] in Kidder County (H. A. Kantrud, RES). The earliest post-breeding flock, containing 18 adults, was observed on June 7 [1967] in Rolette County (RES).

Nests are often situated on native prairie, sometimes at a considerable distance from water or marsh. Nine nests were found on the Woodworth Field Station of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during 1966-1970, and of these, four were situated in native prairie, four in cropland, and one in hayland (L. M. Kirsch).

Indicated clutch size (10 nests): each nest with 4 eggs.

Figure 69. Breeding Range of Marbled Godwit.

Marbled Godwit on nest. Stutsman County, June 1972 (photo by Ed Bry).

Marbled Godwit on territory. Burleigh County, April 1964 (photo by Ed Bry).