Large. Long necked, long thin straight bill, and extremely long thin legs. Hybrids with Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) generally have a black on breast, longer bills, and shorter legs. Sexes alike.
Adults: Entirely black with a greenish tinge on upperparts. Eye, red. Bill, black. The black plumage is aquired over the first year.
Juveniles: Has white on head, neck and breast, with a black patch around the eye. Back of neck has a grey wash.
New Zealand: formerly widespread, but breeding now restricted to MacKenzie Basin, central South I; small numbers winter locally in North I.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 40 (2010) and increasing.
Status CR
Habitat loss and degradation, predation by introduced mammals such as cats, ferret Mustela furo, stoat Mustela erminea, hedgehogs Erinaceus sp. and brown rat Rattus norvegicus, and the native Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans) and Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) are the main threats
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) [XC207175]
by Dan Lane from Ben Ohau, Mackenzie District, Canterbury, New Zealand (call)
Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) [XC34721]
by Frank Lambert from on flats between Lake Tekapo and Lake Alexandrina (western shore), New Zealand (call, calls made between probing in mud)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), with which sometimes considered conspecific. Known to hybridize with subspecies leucocephalus of Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), and the two species have very similar courtship and breeding behaviour.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Hybridises with Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and the resulting individuals very variable. Compared to pure adults, darker hybrid adults have longer bills, shorter legs. Compared to pure juveniles, hybrid adults have some solid black on breast.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Smaller. Juveniles with juveniles and adults. Lacks any black on underparts. Legs are more reddish. Hybrides to produce individuals with some black on breast.
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet