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Black-winged Stilt

(Himantopus himantopus)
Alternative names: "White-headed Stilt", "Pied Stilt", "Longshanks", "Stilt-bird"; Misnomer: "Long-legged Plover"
Size: 33-37 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Black-winged Stilts are most common in the south-east of the Australian continent, mainly in western VIC and south-western NSW. But they are found almost anywhere in the eastern half of the continent, except Tasmania and the tip of Cape York, around the tropical north of the NT and the north-west coast of WA and in the western half of WA. The only area where they are not found is the most arid part of the continent, from about the Nullarbor to south of the Kimberleys.

Black-winged Stilts can be found in the shallows of various kinds of aquatic habitat (both saline and freshwater), such as flooded grassland, freshwater lakes (including ephemeral lakes), but also saltwater marshes.

Sightings

In July 2005 and again in November 2006 we spotted Black-winged Stilts on Dangars Lagoon near Uralla, NSW. They were seen there again in January 2011.

In January 2006 a family turned up at our former neighbour's place, settling in around his billabong 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW.

Also seen in temporary wetlands 20 km south of Walgett, NSW, in April 2009.

Subsequently hundreds, possibly thousands of birds were spotted by us at Lake Goran, an ephemeral lake about 30 km south of Gunnedah, NSW, in April 2011. About 6 weeks later, in early June, only about 100 were left, while several hundred Red-necked Avocets had moved in. In August only about 50 were spotted, keeping well away from the ever more numerous Red-necked Avocets.

Additional information

Black-winged Stilts were also observed, and better photos obtained, by us in Oman.

Photos

Near-frontal view of an adult Black-winged Stilt

Lateral view of an adult Black-winged Stilt wading through shallow water

Adult Black-winged Stilt (left) now with an immature bird (right) wading through shallow water

View from behind of the same adult bird as shown above

View of the back of an adult Black-winged Stilt taken in captivity

Lateral view a Black-winged Stilt (left); the same bird making sure it is not stepping on a land mine (right)

Black-winged Stilts in flight; note that the legs of the immature birds are a bit paler than those of the adults

Long-range shot of about 45 Black-winged Stilts at Goran Lake

Lateral view of an immature bird

Two immature Black-winged Stilts

Immature birds feeding in a flooded grain field; the dark eyepatch clearly distinguished this bird as an immature, although the legs are already turning red (click on image for a different posture)

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Flock