Himantopus leucocephalus
The Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) is a strikingly elegant wader, instantly recognizable by its extreme proportions and crisp black and white plumage. Averaging 33–40 cm (13–16 in) in length with a wingspan of 67–83 cm (26–33 in) and weighing 140-270g (5-9.5 oz), this species boasts the longest legs relative to body size of any bird in the world, colored a vibrant pinkish-red. Its definitive field marks include a stark black cap extending down the hindneck, brilliant white underparts, ...
The Pied Stilt thrives in a variety of shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, including marshes, lagoons, salt pans, estuaries, and rice paddies, typically at low elevations.
Their diet primarily consists of aquatic insects and their larvae, small crustaceans, mollusks, and worms, obtained by probing mud or picking from the water's surface.
Pied Stilts are diurnal birds, actively foraging during daylight hours and typically roosting in loose flocks on mudflats or shallow water margins at night. Their distinctive foraging strategy involves a slow, deliberate 'stilt-walking' through shallow water, where they probe the mud with their s...
The Pied Stilt has a wide distribution across Australasia and parts of Southeast Asia. Its core breeding and year-round range encompasses Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. It also extends through much of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thaila...
Least Concern
- The Pied Stilt possesses the longest legs in proportion to its body size of any bird species in the world, allowing it to wade in deeper waters than most shorebirds. - Its scientific genus name, *Himantopus*, is derived from Greek, meaning 'strap-foot' or 'thong-footed,' a direct reference to i...