The Black-winged stilt is a striking shorebird renowned for its elegant appearance and distinctive long, slender pink legs, which it gracefully extends as it moves through its wetland habitats.
During the breeding season, the adult male Black-winged Stilt dons a striking plumage characterized by contrasting black and white feathers. Its wings are entirely black, contrasting vividly with the white underparts and a subtle pinkish wash across the breast. The head features a white face and forehead, while the crown is adorned with a glossy black cap, adding to its regal appearance. Its eyes, with dilated pupils, provide keen vision for detecting prey and potential threats. The bill is sleek, straight, and black, perfectly adapted for probing the mud and water for food. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Black-winged Stilt is its remarkable pink legs and feet, which are exceptionally long and slender, allowing it to wade effortlessly in shallow waters in search of prey.
The Black-winged Stilt is a highly adaptable species with a broad distribution across the globe. It can be found in a diverse range of habitats, including wetlands, marshes, lakeshores, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. Its range extends across continents, encompassing regions such as Australia, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, parts of North America, and Eurasia, as well as island nations like Hawaii and the Philippines. This widespread distribution reflects the species’ ability to thrive in various ecosystems and climatic conditions, from tropical to temperate regions.
In addition to its striking appearance and adaptability, the Black-winged Stilt plays a vital ecological role as a predator and prey species within its wetland habitats. It feeds primarily on aquatic invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, which it captures by probing the mud and shallow waters with its long bill. Conversely, it serves as prey for larger predators such as birds of prey, mammals, and reptiles, contributing to the intricate web of species interactions within wetland ecosystems.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bonaire
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Colombia
Congo-Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Finland
France
French Guiana
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks & Caicos
UAE
US Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic / Monomorphic (size)
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
