The Black-tailed Godwit breeds from Iceland through central Europe into Russia with a separate population in Siberia. They migrate in winter further south as far as sub-Saharan Africa, India, Indonesia and Australia.

The sub-species that breeds in Siberia L. l. melanuroides is the race that migrates to Australia from September to May.

In flight, they are quite distinct from Bar-tailed Godwit L. lapponica with the Black-tailed Godwit showing a white wing-bar, a white square on the rump and legs which project conspicuously beyond the tail.

See also the Europe page on this species.