Black Stilt vs American Avocet
Himantopus novaezelandiae compared with Recurvirostra americana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Stilt | American Avocet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Himantopus novaezelandiae | Recurvirostra americana |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Recurvirostridae | Recurvirostridae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 48.4 cm (19.1 in) | 43.6 cm (17.2 in) |
| Weight | 207.5 g (7.32 oz) | 307.5 g (10.85 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 3-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Black Stilt
American Avocet
About These Birds
Black Stilt
Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) is a slender 37–40 cm wader endemic to New Zealand's South Island. Entirely jet-black plumage; long pink-red legs; thin bill. Critically Endangered; only ~100–150 wild birds survive in the upper Waitaki basin braided riverbeds. Intensive captive rearing, predator control, and wetland management ongoing.
American Avocet
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a large 40–51 cm wader of North America. Black and white body; orange-rufous head and neck in breeding plumage; long upturned bill; blue-grey legs. Inhabits shallow saline and freshwater lakes, marshes, and coastal flats from western Canada to Mexico. Migratory. Sweeps bill side-to-side in water.