Fauna
Bird

Pied Stilt

Himantopus leucocephalus

Also known as White-headed Stilt, Poaka

Pied stilts are graceful waders instantly recognizable by their striking black-and-white plumage and impossibly long, bubblegum-pink legs. They probe shallow wetlands and tidal mudflats with straight, needle-like bills to pluck aquatic bugs and small crustaceans from the silt. During the breeding season, pairs nest in loose colonies near the water's edge, loudly mobbing aerial intruders with high-pitched yelps that resemble small barking puppies.

ShorebirdWadingWetland
Pied Stilt reference1 / 7
(c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Allen · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAquatic Insects, Crustaceans, Mollusks
Predators
  • Feral Cat
  • Red Fox
  • Swamp Harrier
ThreatsWetland degradation, introduced mammalian predators, and erratic water-level fluctuations
HabitatsFreshwater swamps, shallow lakes, tidal mudflats, estuaries, and saltmarshes
Life span10–18 years
Classification
  1. OrderCharadriiformes
  2. FamilyRecurvirostridae
  3. GenusHimantopus
  4. SpeciesHimantopus leucocephalus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Viewing distance: Use a spotting scope or telephoto lens from shore to avoid flushing feeding flocks.
  • Breeding caution: Steer well clear of gravel bars and muddy banks where camouflaged ground nests lie.
Related species
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