Photographed at Travis Wetland, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Of the five sub species of pied stilt, leucocephalus extends from the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Bismarck Archepelago to Australia and New Zealand. Pied stilts are more generally known as black-winged stilt overseas and breed all around the world in tropical and warm temperate climates.
The ornithologist W.R.B. Oliver says, “In my opinion the Australian and New Zealand pied stilts should together be maintained as a species distinct from the northern H. himantopus, firstly, because in the adult stage it has the hind neck black whereas in H. himantopus it is white, and, secondly, it has a black counterpart in H. novaezealandiae with which it interbreeds.”
Edgar F. Stead writes of the pied stilt; “Despite the fact that stilts are of proportions that are somewhat unusual, their movements at all times are exceedingly graceful. When walking slowly in shallow water, they raise each foot above the surface as they proceed, putting it down again very daintily, the proceeding giving the effect of a consciously elegant, if not mincing, gait. During flight, which is strong and swift, the legs trail behind.”
The call is a sharp yapping like a small dog. Foubnd throughout New Zealand
in river–beds, shores of lakes and lagoons, and marshy margins of estuaries. It breeds in all these places, the nest never being situated at any great distance from water.
They are wading birds, feeding on insects and their larvae, worms and small shellfish in shallow water.
“Stilts begin mating in August and are very noisy at this time, yapping even in the intervals of their feeding. They make a great fuss if anyone goes near their nest, flying to a height, and then dashing straight at the intruder, and giving a harsh cry as they pass close overhead and turn upwards again. Intimidation failing, they try to divert attention to themselves by simulating injury, shamming broken broken legs or wings in a most realistic manner.
“The young when hatched are covered with down, the upperparts being yellowish fawn, freely spotted with black, while the front of the neck and the under parts are almost white, and devoid of any markings.
Size 35 cm., 190 g., black and white wader with very long pink legs and fine black bill. Varibale black on crown, nape, hindneck and collar on the lower neck, black wings and back.