Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt
A species of Stilts, Also known as Hawaiian Stilt Scientific name : Himantopus mexicanus knudseni Genus : Stilts
Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt, A species of Stilts
Also known as:
Hawaiian Stilt
Botanical name: Himantopus mexicanus knudseni
Genus: Stilts
Content
Description General Info
Photo By silversea_starsong , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The Hawaiian stilt grows up to 38 cm (15 in) in length. It has a black back from head to tail, with a white forehead, face, and underside. Its bill is thin, long and black, and its legs are very long and pink. Sexes are similar, except that the female has a tinge of brown on its back, while the male's back is glossy. Relatively, the Hawaiian stilt has among the longest legs of any bird in the world. Its eyebrows, cheeks, chin, breast, belly and vent are white. Immature birds have a brownish back and a cheek patch like the adult black-necked stilt. Downy chicks are well camouflaged in tan with black speckling. Young look identical to both black-necked and black-winged stilts. Compared to the nominate subspecies, the North American H. m. mexicanus, the black coloration of the Hawaiian stilt extends noticeably farther around its neck and lower on its face than the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), and its bill, tarsus, and tail are longer. 
Feeding Habits
The Hawaiian stilt's feeding habitats are shallow bodies of water, providing a wide variety of fish, crabs, worms, and insects.
Habitat
An estimated 92% of the Hawaiian stilt population is on Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, with annual presence on Niihau, Molokai, and Hawaii, and rare observation on Lanai (1993 estimate). The species is generally found below elevations of 150 m (490 ft). The Hawaiian stilt occurs locally on all the main Hawaiian islands, and there are still breeding populations on Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i where it is fairly common. It is uncommon on Moloka'i and Lana'i, and scarce on Hawai'i. Many of Kauai's birds migrate to Ni'ihau during wet winters. The stilts are most often seen in wetlands near the ocean on the main islands. They may occur in large groups on ponds, marshes and mudflats.
General Info
Distribution Area
An estimated 92% of the Hawaiian stilt population is on Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, with annual presence on Niihau, Molokai, and Hawaii, and rare observation on Lanai (1993 estimate). The species is generally found below elevations of 150 m (490 ft). The Hawaiian stilt occurs locally on all the main Hawaiian islands, and there are still breeding populations on Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i where it is fairly common. It is uncommon on Moloka'i and Lana'i, and scarce on Hawai'i. Many of Kauai's birds migrate to Ni'ihau during wet winters. The stilts are most often seen in wetlands near the ocean on the main islands. They may occur in large groups on ponds, marshes and mudflats.
Species Status
The subspecies is LE (Listed Endangered) in the US Endangered Species Act (USESA), and its NatureServe Conservation Status was ranked G5T2 in 1996, meaning the species is globally secure (G5), but the Hawaiian subspecies is imperiled (T2). The population is estimated to be slightly increasing since it was included in the USESA in 1967. According to state biannual waterbird surveys, population estimates varied between 1,100 and 1,783 between 1997 and 2007. Conservation programs are protecting populations and breeding grounds, and also establishing additional populations to reduce risk of extinction. The state of Hawaii and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have protected 23% of the state's coastal wetlands.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Stilts and avocets Genus
Stilts Species
Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt 
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