Black-winged Stilt
(Also known as Pied Stilt or Longshanks)

Black-winged Stilts are wading birds.
They are black and white.
They have long orange legs.
They live near water.
They eat insects that live in and near the water.

Appearance
The black-winged Stilt is a black and white wading bird. It is black on the back of the neck but the front of the neck is white. It has long orange-red legs with partially webbed toes and black claws. Its beak is long and black. Males and females are similar in appearance. The young have greyish brown wings and back, speckled with white. The crown, or top of their head, is grey, and this extends down the neck as they get older. Adult birds are about 39 cm.

Habitat and Distribution (where they are found)
Black-winged Stilts are found in most parts of Australia (but not Tasmania) and also in Central and South America, Africa and parts of southeast Asia and North America. Their habitat is freshwater and saltwater swamps, mudflats and along the shallow edges of rivers and lakes.

Behaviours
They don't swim for food, but wade in the shallows and catch prey that is close to the surface. Sometimes they put their heads underwater to catch prey.

Diet
They feed mainly on aquatic insects, but also eat crustaceans and molluscs.

Life Cycle
Between August and December, Black-winged Stilts nest in small colonies, and each pair defends their territory. They make a nest that could be scraped in the mud or plants piled up in a mound near the water. Females generally lay 3 or 4 eggs. Both males and females incubate (keep warm) the eggs for 25 days,and then look after the chicks.

Conservation Status
The Black-winged Stilt is classified as Vulnerable, because of the loss or change of wetland areas for human use.

Information adapted from a text by Michael Dyson, with his permission

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Thomas, R. & Sydenham, S. Black-winged Stilt [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2008)

Updated September 2008 © kidcyber