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A black-winged stilt wading through a mud-fringed pool, its extremely long pink legs keeping the black and white body well above the water

Black-winged stilt © Paul Paddock

Black-winged stilt

Scientific name: Himantopus himantopus
This elegant wading bird is a rare visitor to the UK, though occasionally one or two of pairs will nest here.

Species information

Statistics

Length: 38 cm
Wingspan: 75 cm

Conservation status

A very rare breeding bird in the UK. Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

When to see

April to August

About

The black-winged stilt is a black and white wading bird with incredibly long legs. They live in a variety of wetlands, from marshes to coastal lagoons. They wade through the water, plucking insects from the surface. Their incredibly long legs (around 60% of their height) allow them to walk through deeper water than other wading birds.

Black-winged stilts are found in a wide range across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The European population is mostly migratory, flying to Africa for the winter. Although the UK is too far north to be part of their usual range, birds from southern Europe do sometimes turn up here. Occasionally, pairs arrive and nest in the UK. Nesting attempts have become more common in recent decades, which has been linked to climate change. Warmer weather in southern Europe dries out the wetlands where they would usually nest, pushing them north to find more suitable sites.

How to identify

Easily recognised thanks to the incredibly long, bright pink legs. The body is mostly white, with black wings and a dark back. Males have a glossy black back. Females and young birds have a browner back, which contrasts with the black wings. There are often dark markings on the head and neck, especially on males. They have a long, dark needle-like beak.

Distribution

A rare visitor to the UK. Most records are from southern and eastern England.

Habitats

Did you know?

Black-winged stilts are very protective of their nests and young. They will mob and chase away much larger birds.