Photo: JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Critically Endangered

Shorebirds

Black Stilt

Himantopus novaezelandiae

Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

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The Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) is a member of the Recurvirostridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 195 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

CR Critically Endangered

Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Recurvirostridae Stilts, Avocets
Genus Himantopus
Species novaezelandiae

Where it lives

Central South I. (New Zealand)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 195 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Recurvirostridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black Stilt hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Black Stilt is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) is a member of the Recurvirostridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU c South I. (New Zealand).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 195 g, with a wing length of about 24.2 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.

It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2,833 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Songs & calls

Black Stilt — Call, calls made between probing in mud

Recorded by Frank Lambert Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black Stilt?

The Black Stilt is a large bird that weighs around 195 g.

Where does the Black Stilt live?

The Black Stilt is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU c South I. (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black Stilt belong to?

The Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) belongs to the Recurvirostridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Black Stilt eat?

The Black Stilt hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Black Stilt migrate?

The Black Stilt is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Black Stilt endangered?

It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Black Stilt make?

1 real field recording of the Black Stilt — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black Stilt's range?

The Black Stilt has a mapped global range of about 2,833 km².