Bird Guide

Black-winged Stilt vs Pied Stilt

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Medium177 gWetland

Adults are 33–36 cm (13–14 in) long, with long, pink legs, and a long, rather thin black bill. The birds are generally black above and white below, with a white head and neck (with a varying amount of black, species-dependent). Males have a black back, often with a greenish gloss or sheen. Females' backs have a brownish hue, contrasting with the black remiges. In populations where the top of the head is normally white (at least in winter), females tend to have less black on the head and neck the entire year-round, while males often have much more black, particularly in summer.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Black-winged Stilt
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Alarm call · Arrondissement of Avranches (near Saint-Jean-le-Thomas), Manche, Normandy, France · CC0
Photo: Stephan Sprinz · CC BY 4.0
Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)

Pied Stilt

Himantopus leucocephalus

Medium177 gWetland

The pied stilt grows to a length of about 14 in (36 cm) with a wingspan of about 26.5 in (67 cm). The back of the head and neck, the back and the upper surfaces of the wings are glossy greenish-black. The undersides of the wings are plain black and the remainder of the plumage is white, apart from the tail feathers which are tinged with grey. The long, thin legs are pink and the toes have black claws. The long slender beak is black and the irises and the eyelids are red.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Pied Stilt
Recorded by Untung Sarmawi · Alarm call · Banyuwedang, Gerokgak, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Indonesia · CC0
Photo: Marion & Christoph Aistleitner · CC0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-winged Stilt and Pied Stilt.