Black-winged Stilt

Adults have brilliant white heads, necks, and underparts, contrasting sharply with glossy black upperwings and back. Males often have a glossy greenish-black mantle, sometimes with more black on the head/neck in breeding season, while females tend to be browner-tinged on the wings. Juveniles are duller, with brownish-grey tones on the back and head.

Extremely long pink legs extending well beyond the tail in flight, straight black bill, white head and body, and black wings.

Length: 33-36 cm, Wingspan: 67-83 cm, Weight: 140-200 g

A repeated, sharp, piping yelping call, often described as 'kik-kik-kik' or 'yip-yip-yip', especially when alarmed.

Insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small tadpoles, foraged by probing shallow water or mud with its delicate bill.

Shallow, open wetlands, freshwater lakes, saltmarshes, lagoons, and flooded agricultural fields.

Partial migrant; northern populations are migratory and winter in Africa or southern Asia, while tropical populations are largely resident.

Nests in loose colonies on the ground near water, often on a small mound of vegetation or mud. Usually lays 3 to 4 eggs, incubated by both parents.

Banded Stilt (found in Australia, features a chestnut breast band) and Black Stilt (critically endangered, entirely black adult plumage).

Acts as an important predator of aquatic insects and small invertebrates, helping to control populations in wetland ecosystems.

Least Concern, with a stable or increasing population trend globally.

Look for them in shallow wetlands, salt pans, and flooded fields. They are quite vocal and will noisily mob potential predators or intruders near their nests.

The Black-winged Stilt possesses the longest legs relative to its body size of almost any bird species, second only to the flamingo.