Black Stilt

The black stilt is a wading bird in the family Recurvirostridae. It is native to New Zealand and is locally known there by its Maori name ‘‘kaki.’’ Adults are characterized by long red legs, a slender bill and black plumage (BirdLife International (BLI) 2007a; New Zealand Conservation Management Group (NZ CMaG 2007). Adult males and females are generally regarded as having identical plumage (BLI 2007e); however, Elkington and Maloney (2000) determined that white flecking around their eyes and crown is generally indicative of older males. Juveniles have a white-plumed breast, neck, and head (BLI 2007e).