The Black-winged Stilt, an elegant wader with a distinctive silhouette.
Introduction
The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a medium-sized wader, well-known for its striking black and white plumage and famously long, slender legs. Belonging to the Recurvirostridae family, it is easily identified by its distinctive features, especially its long, straight, black bill.
Length: 33 to 36 cm (13 to 14 inches)
Wingspan: 67 to 83 cm (26 to 32.7 inches)
Weight: 160 to 220 grams (5.6 to 7.8 ounces)
Its graceful appearance is accentuated by its incredibly long, bright pink legs. This is a freshwater and brackish water bird that thrives in wetland areas, feeding by probing shallow water or mud with its straight bill.
Our Ornithologist's Advice
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published August 1st, 2025.
My personal advice: The Black-winged Stilt is a truly remarkable bird to observe in wetlands. Its unique appearance makes it stand out. To fully appreciate it:
The straight bill: This is a key distinguishing feature. Observe how it uses its fine, straight bill by vertically probing the water or mud to catch small invertebrates. This action is precise and efficient.
Pink legs and silhouette: Its strikingly bright pink legs, contrasting beautifully with its crisp black and white plumage, make it unforgettable. In flight, these long legs extend far beyond its tail, adding to its elegant profile.
These details, combined with its deliberate and high-stepping gait in shallow waters, will help you easily identify and admire this majestic bird of marshlands and shores.
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Identification
The identification of the Black-winged Stilt is quite straightforward among waders due to its unmistakable features.
Adult plumage: The body is predominantly pure white, with distinctive black markings. The back, upperwings, and nape are black. Its legs are exceptionally long, slender, and a vibrant pink, with no visible webbing between the toes. The bill is black, very thin, and straight. There is no significant seasonal variation in plumage.
Juvenile: Young Black-winged Stilts have less intense plumage. Their black parts are duller, often brownish. The legs may appear paler pink. The bill is straight from a young age.
The black and white patterns of the Black-winged Stilt are very visible in flight, with legs trailing far behind.
Dimensions and Scientific Records (Black-winged Stilt)
Characteristic
Male
Female
Record / Average
Length
33 – 36 cm
33 – 36 cm
33 – 36 cm (adults)
Weight
160 – 220 g
160 – 220 g
160 – 220 g (adults, average 190 g)
Wingspan
67 – 83 cm
67 – 83 cm
67 – 83 cm
Flight speed
Fast
Fast
Direct and rapid flight
Life expectancy
Up to 19 years
Up to 19 years
Approximately 15-18 years (record 20 years)
These figures confirm the Black-winged Stilt as a distinctive wader, perfectly adapted to shallow wetland habitats.
The Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) is another black and white wader. The key difference is its bill: the Avocet's bill is slender and strongly upturned, while the Black-winged Stilt's bill is straight. Avocets also have blue-grey legs, not pink. Its body is also generally slightly larger (42-45 cm). Nesting colonies can sometimes be mixed.
The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is entirely white, with a long, straight, tapered black bill and black legs with yellow feet. Although of similar or slightly larger size (55-65 cm) and inhabiting wetlands, its uniform white color and bill shape clearly distinguish it from the Black-winged Stilt's black and white pattern and pink legs.
The Black-winged Stilt emits a characteristic vocal repertoire, particularly noticeable during the breeding season or when alarmed. Its calls are often described as sharp, repeated yapping sounds, such as "kip," "kik," or "kyaak." When alarmed, these calls become more insistent and louder. The English name "Stilt" directly refers to its exceptionally long legs, reminiscent of walking on stilts.
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Habitat and Distribution of the Black-winged Stilt
The Black-winged Stilt is a wader species that prefers open, shallow aquatic environments, whether saline or brackish. It is characteristic of coastal lagoons, estuaries, mudflats, salt marshes, and, occasionally, freshwater lakes or slow-flowing rivers. The presence of these undisturbed habitats is vital for its successful nesting and foraging.
The species is widely distributed across Southern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is a partial migrant, with many populations undertaking significant journeys south to winter in warmer regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Other populations remain resident year-round.
Distribution Map
Present year-round (Resident)
Breeding Range
Wintering Range (Non-breeding)
Passage Area (Migration)
Diet
This species primarily feeds on small benthic aquatic invertebrates, which it finds in shallow water and mud. Its diet includes annelids (worms), small crustaceans (such as copepods and ostracods), bivalve molluscs, as well as larvae and small insects (like midges and beetles). These prey items typically measure between 4 and 15 millimeters long.
The Black-winged Stilt uses its straight bill in a highly specialized manner. It forages by walking through shallow water and probing the mud or substrate with its bill, often using a "sewing machine" action – rapid vertical movements – or sweeping its bill from side to side to stir up and capture prey.
Reproduction
Black-winged Stilts typically nest in colonies, ranging from just a few pairs to several hundred, on islets or dikes immediately adjacent to water. They are considered philopatric, meaning they tend to return to their birthplace to breed.
The breeding season extends from April to July in Eurasia. The nest is a simple scrape on the ground, often lined with sparse vegetation and located in short grass or on a sandbank near the water. The female lays an average of 3 to 4 eggs, which are typically olive to beige and often speckled. Incubation lasts approximately 22 to 26 days and is shared by both parents.
The chicks are precocial, meaning they leave the nest very quickly after hatching to hide in surrounding vegetation and begin foraging. They are capable of flying and becoming independent between 28 and 32 days after hatching. Adults diligently protect them from adverse weather and predators. They often share nesting sites with other wader species, such as the Pied Avocet.
Conservation Status
The Black-winged Stilt is classified as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Its global population is considered relatively stable and large, with a very extensive distribution range.
However, the species is sensitive to several anthropogenic threats. These include habitat destruction (particularly the transformation of coastal lagoons and salt marshes for development), pollution (especially from insecticides), infrastructure development, and human disturbance at nesting sites. Diseases such as botulism and avian influenza can also locally impact populations. In many countries, including France, the species is legally protected.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to identify the Black-winged Stilt?
The Black-winged Stilt is easily recognizable by its contrasting black and white plumage, extremely long pink legs, and especially its slender, black, straight bill.
Where does the Black-winged Stilt live?
It frequents shallow wetland areas such as coastal lagoons, estuaries, mudflats, and salt marshes. It can be found across much of Southern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
What does the Black-winged Stilt eat?
It is a carnivorous bird that feeds primarily on small aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, worms, and larvae. It catches them by probing the water or mud with its characteristic straight bill, often using a sweeping or vertical probing motion.
