Black Stilt
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 Black Stilt left; Pied Stilt right.
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| Himantopus novaezelandiae Gould, 1841 |
The Black Stilt or Kakī (Māori), Himantopus novaezelandiae, is a large wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. Adults are 40 cm long. They have very long red legs, a long thin black bill and black plumage. Juveniles have a white breast, neck and head, with a black patch around the eyes.
This species is one of the most threatened shorebirds in the world. The current population is estimated at 50 adult birds. During the breeding season it is restricted to the upper Waitaki Valley, South Island, New Zealand. Small numbers overwinter in the North Island.
They breed at the age of 2 -3 years of age. They are one of the worlds most endangered birds. First of all, drainage and hydroelectric dvelopment has in the past disturbed their braided river bed habitat. Second of all, predation from mammalian invasive species, most notably mustelids such as stoats presently poses a serious threat to the species survival.
The third major threat to this species is hybridization with the local and more numerous Pied Stilt H. himantopus.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2006). Himantopus novaezelandiae. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered
[edit] External link
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