Bird
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopusAlso known as Common Stilt
Black-winged Stilts are elegant waders with white bodies, black wings and back, needle-like bills, and extraordinarily long pink legs. They step through shallow water to pick small animals from the surface and sediment.
shorebirdlong-leggedshallow wetland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAquatic insects, small crustaceans, worms
Predators
- gulls
- foxes
- raccoons
ThreatsWetland loss, polluted water, altered water levels, predators, and nesting disturbance
HabitatsShallow marshes, salt ponds, mudflats, flooded fields, lagoons, and lake margins
Life spanOften several years, with some marked birds surviving beyond ten years
Classification
- OrderCharadriiformes
- FamilyRecurvirostridae
- GenusHimantopus
- SpeciesHimantopus himantopus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Retreat if adults alarm-call or circle because a nest or chicks may be nearby.
Responsible observation
- Identify: Combine very long pink legs with crisp black-and-white plumage.
- Observe: Stay outside feeding shallows and any area defended by calling adults.
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.