Where do Black-winged Stilt live?

The black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed wading bird in the avocetinidae family. It is found across much of the world in wetland habitats. Understanding where black-winged stilts live provides insights into their habitat requirements and conservation needs. This article will explore the global distribution and habitat preferences of the black-winged stilt.

Where Do Black-Winged Stilts Live?

Black-winged stilts have an extremely wide distribution across the world’s continents. They are found in:

Africa

In Africa, black-winged stilts occur widely across the continent. They are present in:

• North Africa – Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt
• West Africa – Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon
• East Africa – Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
• Southern Africa – Namibia, Botswana, South Africa
• Madagascar and nearby islands

Some key wetland habitats occupied by black-winged stilts in Africa include:

• Lake Natron in Tanzania
• Inner Niger Delta in Mali
• Saloum Delta in Senegal
• Lake Burullus in Egypt
• Etosha Pan in Namibia
• Walvis Bay wetlands in Namibia
• Lake St. Lucia in South Africa

Asia

Black-winged stilts have a wide distribution across Asia. They occur in:

• Western Asia – Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran
• Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
• Indian subcontinent – Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
• Southeast Asia – Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia
• East Asia – China, Mongolia, South Korea, Japan

Some significant wetlands used by black-winged stilts in Asia include:

• Lake Tuz in Turkey
• Chilika Lake in India
• Keoladeo National Park in India
• Lake Con Dao in Vietnam
• Mai Po Marshes in Hong Kong
• Yellow Sea wetlands in China and South Korea

Australia and Oceania

In Australia and Oceania, the black-winged stilt is found in:

• Mainland Australia
• Tasmania
• New Zealand
• New Caledonia
• Fiji
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands
• Vanuatu

Major wetlands used include:

• Kakadu National Park
• Ashmore Reed Lakes
• Shoalwater Bay
• Farewell Spit

Europe

The black-winged stilt has a patchy distribution in Europe, where it occurs in:

• Southern Europe – Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Albania, Croatia
• Eastern Europe – Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia

Key wetlands include:

• Donana National Park in Spain
• Camargue in France
• Po Delta in Italy
• Danube Delta in Romania
• Hortobagy National Park in Hungary

Americas

In the Americas, the black-winged stilt can be found in:

• North America – Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
• Caribbean islands – Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
• South America – Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile

Some key wetlands include:

• San Francisco Bay in the United States
• Laguna Madre in Mexico
• Llanos wetlands in Venezuela
• Pantanal in Brazil

Habitat Preferences

Across their wide global range, black-winged stilts primarily inhabit open, shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands. Typical habitats include:

• Coastal saltmarshes and intertidal mudflats
• Coastal lagoons and estuaries
• Inland marshes, lakes and ponds
• Flooded agricultural fields and irrigation channels
• Rice paddies
• River deltas
• Edges of rivers and streams

Black-winged stilts favor wetlands with areas of exposed mudflats or shallow water up to around 30 cm deep. These provide ideal foraging habitat. They avoid overgrown, densely vegetated wetlands.

During the breeding season, black-winged stilts nest on open ground near water. Nest sites are often small islands or mounds within wetlands. They also use agricultural fields, salt pans, or grazed grasslands close to foraging habitat.

Geographic Variation

There are 19 recognized subspecies of the black-winged stilt:

The variation between subspecies is largely clinal, with gradual geographic gradation in size and plumage tones. However, around 5-7 subspecies are commonly recognized. H. h. himantopus breeds in Europe and Asia and winters mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. H. h. meridionalis is resident around the Mediterranean. H. h. knudseni is the distinct resident Hawaiian subspecies. H. h. lampronotus breeds inland in South America.

Status and Conservation

The black-winged stilt has an extremely large global population estimated at 3.3-4.2 million individuals. The population appears to be stable, so the species is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In some regions, populations have benefited from increased habitat in artificial and modified wetlands, such as salt pans, rice fields and wastewater treatment ponds.

However, black-winged stilts face threats from wetland habitat loss and degradation through drainage, pollution, invasive species and other human impacts. Conservation priorities include protecting key breeding and foraging wetlands through habitat management and restoration. Maintaining shallow, open areas of wetlands is vital. Reducing disturbance, managing water levels, and controlling invasive vegetation are other actions that can benefit black-winged stilt populations.

Conclusion

In summary, the black-winged stilt is a remarkably widespread species found across Africa, Eurasia, Australasia, and the Americas. It occurs in a diverse array of shallow freshwater and coastal wetlands. Conservation of these wetland habitats, which face many threats worldwide, is important for maintaining black-winged stilt populations into the future. Careful wetland management can provide quality breeding and foraging grounds for black-winged stilts.