Birdsong field guide
Black Stilt
Himantopus novaezelandiae
The Black Stilt, or Kakī, is a critically endangered wading bird endemic to New Zealand, distinguished by its striking jet-black plumage and exceptionally long red legs. It is considered one of the rarest shorebirds in the world and serves as an indicator species for the health of braided river ecosystems.
What it sounds like
A sharp, high-pitched 'yep' or barking whistle, similar to a small dog's yip, often repeated rapidly when alarmed.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- The wild population reached a critical low of just 23 birds in 1981, necessitating one of New Zealand's most intensive captive-breeding programs.
- Unlike the more common Pied Stilt, the Kakī remains in its inland braided river habitats during the winter rather than migrating to coastal estuaries.
- The species faces a unique 'extinction by hybridization' threat due to interbreeding with the self-introduced Pied Stilt.
- Kakī are specialized foragers that use their long, sensitive bills to detect aquatic invertebrates under stones in fast-flowing water.
- They are long-lived birds, capable of reaching up to 20 years of age in the wild, despite high pressure from introduced mammalian predators.
Habitat
Braided riverbeds, shallow wetlands, and glacial tarns with loose shingle and sand.
Range
South Island of New Zealand, primarily restricted to the Mackenzie Basin.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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