A Bar-tailed Godwit once flew non-stop for 11 days across the Pacific Ocean without eating, drinking, or landing.

In September 2020, a male Bar-tailed Godwit known as 4BBRW completed a record-breaking migration tracked by the Global Flyway Network. The bird flew approximately 7,500 miles from southwestern Alaska to a bay near Auckland, New Zealand, in just 224 hours. This journey was performed at speeds reaching 55 miles per hour, driven by favorable winds and incredible biological adaptations.Before departure, these birds undergo hyperphagia, consuming massive amounts of food to double their body weight in fat. To maximize efficiency, they physically shrink their digestive organs, including the stomach and liver, which are not needed during the flight. This reduction in non-essential weight allows for more energy-dense fuel storage and better aerodynamics during the long-haul crossing.Bar-tailed Godwits lack waterproof feathers and webbed feet, meaning they would likely drown if they landed in the ocean. To manage exhaustion, they utilize unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, where one half of the brain sleeps while the other remains alert for navigation. This allows them to maintain flight stability and avoid predators while technically resting during their 11-day marathon.