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Costs of migration, in terms of time, energy, and mortality risk, have a strong theoretical and empirical foundation in the study of birds. We expect these costs to be most severe for extreme long‐distance migratory landbirds, whose demanding annual routines (e.g. non‐stop flights > 8000 km and return journeys > 30 000 km) may approach their maximum physiological capabilities. To explore whether this is true, we review evidence in long‐jump migratory shorebirds (Scolopacidae), focusing most on the prototypical example, the Alaska‐breeding bar‐tailed godwit Limosa lapponica baueri. Contrary to expectations, these and similar birds demonstrate high adult survival, little evidence for elevated mortality during migration, no apparent minimisation of non‐stop flight distances, and low inter‐ and intra‐individual variation in migration performance. Two key aspects of extreme migrants may explain these findings: 1) a …