LC
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Himantopus himantopus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously split as H. himantopus, H. leucocephalus and H. mexicanus and following AOU (1998) and SACC (2006). Prior to that, H. melanurus had been split from H. mexicanus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993). 

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2016 Least Concern
2014 Least Concern
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 161 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 302,000,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 271,000,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 7.3 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.450,000-780,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 53,900-75,700 pairs, which equates to 108,000-151,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is unclear, some populations may be stable, increasing or have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated to be stable (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Angola extant native
Anguilla (to UK) extant native
Antigua and Barbuda extant native
Argentina extant native
Armenia extant native yes
Aruba (to Netherlands) extant native
Australia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes yes
Bahamas extant native
Bahrain extant native yes yes
Bangladesh extant native
Barbados extant native
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes
Belize extant native
Benin extant native
Bermuda (to UK) extant native
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) extant native yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native
Botswana extant native
Brazil extant native
Brunei extant native yes
Bulgaria extant native yes
Burkina Faso extant native
Burundi extant native
Cambodia extant native
Cameroon extant native
Canada extant native
Cape Verde extant native
Cayman Islands (to UK) extant native
Central African Republic extant native
Chad extant native
Chile extant native
China (mainland) extant native
Christmas Island (to Australia) extant vagrant
Colombia extant native
Congo extant vagrant
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native
Costa Rica extant native
Côte d'Ivoire extant native
Croatia extant native yes yes
Cuba extant native
Curaçao (to Netherlands) extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant vagrant
Djibouti extant native
Dominica extant native
Dominican Republic extant native
Ecuador extant native
Egypt extant native
El Salvador extant native
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant vagrant
Eswatini extant native
Ethiopia extant native
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) extant native
Finland extant vagrant
France extant native yes yes
French Guiana extant native
Gabon extant native
Gambia extant native
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes
Ghana extant native
Gibraltar (to UK) extant vagrant
Greece extant native yes yes
Grenada extant native
Guadeloupe (to France) extant native
Guam (to USA) extant native yes
Guatemala extant native
Guinea extant native
Guinea-Bissau extant native
Guyana extant native
Haiti extant native
Honduras extant native
Hong Kong (China) extant native
Hungary extant native yes
Iceland extant vagrant
India extant native
Indonesia extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes yes
Iraq extant native yes yes
Ireland extant vagrant
Israel extant native yes yes
Italy extant native yes yes
Jamaica extant native
Japan extant native
Jordan extant native yes yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Laos extant native
Lebanon extant native yes
Lesotho extant native
Liberia extant native
Libya extant native
Luxembourg extant vagrant
Madagascar extant native
Malawi extant native
Malaysia extant native
Maldives extant vagrant
Mali extant native
Malta extant native
Martinique (to France) extant native
Mauritania extant native
Mexico extant native
Micronesia, Federated States of extant native yes
Moldova extant native yes yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Montserrat (to UK) extant native
Morocco extant native
Mozambique extant native
Myanmar extant native
Namibia extant native
Nepal extant native
Netherlands extant native yes
New Zealand extant native yes
Nicaragua extant native
Niger extant native
Nigeria extant native
North Korea extant vagrant
North Macedonia extant native yes
Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Norway extant vagrant
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native
Palau extant native yes
Palestine extant native yes
Panama extant native
Papua New Guinea extant native yes
Paraguay extant native
Peru extant native
Philippines extant native
Poland extant native yes
Portugal extant native yes
Puerto Rico (to USA) extant native
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Rwanda extant native
Saudi Arabia extant native yes yes
Senegal extant native
Serbia extant native yes
Seychelles extant vagrant
Sierra Leone extant native
Singapore extant native
Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) extant native yes
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant native
South Africa extant native
South Korea extant native
South Sudan extant native yes
Spain extant native yes yes
Sri Lanka extant native yes
St Barthelemy (to France) extant native
St Kitts and Nevis extant native
St Lucia extant native
St Vincent and the Grenadines extant native
Sudan extant native
Suriname extant native
Sweden extant vagrant
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Taiwan, China extant native yes
Tajikistan extant native yes
Tanzania extant native
Thailand extant native
Timor-Leste extant native yes
Togo extant native
Trinidad and Tobago extant native
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) extant native
Uganda extant native
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
Uruguay extant native
USA extant native
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Venezuela extant native
Vietnam extant native
Virgin Islands (to UK) extant native
Virgin Islands (to USA) extant native
Western Sahara extant native yes
Yemen extant native yes yes
Zambia extant native
Zimbabwe extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Afghanistan Ab-i-Istada
Argentina Reserva de Uso Múltiple Bañados del Río Dulce y Laguna Mar Chiquita
Australia Alligator Rivers Floodplains
Australia Busselton Wetlands
Australia Cooper Floodplain Below Windorah
Australia Fortescue Marshes
Australia Gulf Plains
Australia Lake Argyle
Australia Lake Corangamite Complex
Australia Lake McLarty
Australia Limmen Bight
Australia Lowbidgee Floodplain
Australia Mandora Marsh and Anna Plains
Australia Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage
Australia Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya
Australia Roebuck Bay
Australia Tarrabool Lake-Eva Downs Swamp System
Austria Neusiedler See
Austria Southern Seewinkel and Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen
Azerbaijan Divichi liman (or Lake Akzibir)
Bulgaria Atanasovsko Lake
Bulgaria Kalimok Complex
Bulgaria Mandra-Poda complex
Bulgaria Pomorie Lake
Bulgaria Shabla Lake Complex
Bulgaria Srebarna
Bulgaria Varna-Beloslav Lakes Complex
Bulgaria Yatata
Burkina Faso Béli River
Burkina Faso Lake Oursi - Lake Darkoye
China (mainland) Taizhou Wan
China (mainland) Xuanmen Wan
China (mainland) Yong Jiang Estuary
Croatia NW Dalmatia and Pag Island
Croatia Podunavlje and Lower Podravlje
Croatia Virovitica Sugar Refinery Lagoons
Cyprus Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs
Cyprus Famagusta Lakes
Cyprus Larnaca Salt Lakes
Cyprus Mia Milia Sewage Treatment Plant
Cyprus Oroklini Lake
Ethiopia Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park
France Anse de Fouras, baie d'Yves et marais de Rochefort
France Anse du Fiers d'Ars en Ré
France Baie de Bourgneuf et marais breton
France Brenne centrale
France Camargue
France Cordon lagunaire de Sète à Agde
France Domaine d'Orx
France Estuaire de la Charente
France Estuaire de la Loire
France Estuaire et embouchure de la Seine
France Etang de Thau
France Etangs de Citis, Lavalduc, Engrenier, Pourra, l'Estomac, Fos et salines de Rassuen et de Fos
France Etangs de Vendres, Pissevache et Lespignan
France Etangs Montpellierains
France Golfe du Morbihan et Etier de Penerf
France Ile d'Oléron, marais de Brouage-Saint-Agnant
France La Dombes
France Marais entre Crau et Grand Rhône: Meyranne, Chanoine, Plan de Bourg et Salins du Caban
France Marais et estuaire de la Seudre
France Marais poitevin et baie de l'Aiguillon
France Marais salants de Noirmoutier
France Petite Camargue fluvio-lacustre
France Salines de l'Etang de Berre
France Salins d'Hyères et de Pesquiers
France Traicts et marais salants de la Presqu'île Guérandaise
Gambia Tanbi wetland complex
Ghana Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site
Ghana Songor Ramsar Site
Greece Agios Mamas marsh
Greece Amvrakikos gulf
Greece Axios, Loudias and Aliakmonas rivers' deltas
Greece Gallikos estuary and Kalochori lagoon
Greece Kalogria lagoon, Strofylia forest and Lamia marshes
Greece Lakes Volvi, Koroneia and Rentina Gorge
Greece Nea Fokaia marshes
Hong Kong (China) Inner Deep Bay and Shenzhen River catchment area
Hungary Alkaline lakes of Kiskunság
Hungary Bihar Plain
Hungary Borsodi-Mezőség
Hungary Cserebökény Pusztas of Szentes
Hungary Lower Tisza Valley
Iran, Islamic Republic of Akh Gol
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arjan Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gavekhoni lake, and marshes of the lower Zaindeh Rud
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamidieh (Omidiyeh) plains
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand
Iran, Islamic Republic of Horeh Bamdej
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Alagol, Lake Ulmagol and Lake Ajigol
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Kobi
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Maharlu
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Uromiyeh
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes
Iran, Islamic Republic of South end of the Hamoun-i Puzak
Iran, Islamic Republic of Susangerd marshes
Iraq Huweija marshes
Israel Judean foothills
Israel Northern Arava valley
Israel Southern Arava valley and Elat mountains
Italy Asinara island, Piana island and Stintino peninsula
Italy Bassa Parmense
Italy Biviere and Plain of Gela
Italy Cagliari wetlands
Italy Cervia saltpans
Italy Palmas Gulf wetlands
Italy Pantani di Vendicari e di Capo Passero
Italy Po Delta
Italy Pools of Florence plain
Italy Sinis and Oristano wetlands
Italy Tavolara archipelago, Cape Ceraso and Cape Figari
Italy Valli Bolognesi
Italy Venice lagoon
Italy Vercelli rice-fields
Jordan Azraq
Kazakhstan Lesser Aral Sea
Kenya Lake Nakuru National Park
Mali Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo
Mali Lac Faguibine
Mali Lac Horo
Mauritania Gâat Mahmoûdé
Mauritania Lac d'Aleg
Mauritania Sawana - Oum Lellé
Mexico Marismas Nacionales
Montenegro Bojana Delta
Montenegro Tivat Salina
Montenegro Ulcinj saltpans
Morocco Sidi Moussa - Oualidia
Namibia Tsumkwe pan system
Paraguay Lagunas Saladas - Riacho Yacaré
Portugal Barrinha de Esmoriz/Lagoa de Paramos
Portugal Castro Marim
Portugal Mondego Estuary
Portugal Paul do Taipal
Portugal Pera marsh
Portugal Ria de Aveiro
Portugal Ria Formosa (Faro lagoon)
Portugal Sado estuary
Portugal Salinas de Alverca e do Forte da Casa
Portugal Santo André and Sancha lagoons
Portugal Tejo estuary
Romania Balta Albă - Amara - Jirlău
Romania Comana
Romania Danube Delta
Romania Ianca - Plopul - Sărat
Romania Ilfov reservoir
Romania Lake Beibugeac (Plopu)
Romania Lake Bugeac
Romania Lake Oltina
Romania Lake Tataru
Romania Lake Techirghiol
Romania Limanu - Herghelia
Romania Suhaia
Russia (Central Asian) Kurtan Lake
Russia (Central Asian) Man'yass lake
Russia (European) Agrakhanski Bay (North Agrakhan)
Russia (European) Dadynskiye lakes
Russia (European) Delta of the River Don
Russia (European) Prikumskiye steppes
Russia (European) Temirgoiskiye lakes
Saudi Arabia Al-Ha'ir
Saudi Arabia Al-Hasa lagoons
Saudi Arabia Makkah waste-water stream
Saudi Arabia Tarut Bay
Serbia Juzni Banat
Serbia Pašnjaci Velike Droplje
Serbia Srednje Potamišje
Slovenia River Drava
Slovenia Sečovlje saltpans
Slovenia Škocjan Bay
Spain Albufera de Mallorca and Albufereta de Pollença marshes
Spain Albufera de Valencia marshes
Spain Alcázar de San Juan-Quero endorreic lagoons
Spain Ampurdán marshes
Spain Cádiz bay
Spain Cinca river rice fields and steppe area
Spain Cortados del Jarama
Spain Costa da Morte
Spain Ebro delta
Spain El Hito
Spain El Hondo wetland
Spain El Moro marshes
Spain Gallocanta lake
Spain Guadalentín saltmarshes
Spain Guadalquivir marshes
Spain Janubio saltpans
Spain Llobregat delta
Spain Mar Menor coastal lagoon
Spain Pedro Muñoz-Manjavacas endorreic lagoons
Spain Pego-Oliva marshes
Spain Pela mountain range-Orellana reservoir-Zorita
Spain Pétrola-Almansa-Yecla
Spain Redbeeds and copses of Aranjuez
Spain River Mijares mouth
Spain Salobrar de Campos Lagoons-Sa Vall
Spain Salt-pans of Ibiza and Formentera and Freus isles
Spain Tablas de Daimiel marshes; 'Vicario' and 'Gasset' reservoirs and Malagón lakes
Spain Tierra de Campos steppes
Spain Tordesillas-Mota del Marqués
Spain Valdehornillos-Santa Amalia
Spain Villafáfila
Spain Wetlands of western Almería
Taiwan, China Central Section of Bachang River
Taiwan, China Hulupi
Taiwan, China Sitsao Wildlife Refuge
Tanzania Lake Manyara
Tanzania Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tunisia Sebkhet Kelbia
Türkiye Akyay Plain
Türkiye Çöl Lake and Çalıkdüzü
Türkiye Erçek Lake
Türkiye Ereğli Plain
Türkiye Gediz Delta
Türkiye Hotamış Marshes
Türkiye Kızılırmak Delta
Türkiye Meriç Delta
Türkiye Seyhan Delta
Türkiye Sodalıgöl (Arın Lake)
Türkiye Sultan Marsh
Uganda Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
Ukraine Ajgul and Karleut lakes
Ukraine Lake near Magazinka village
Ukraine Molochna river valley
Ukraine Syvash Bay
United Arab Emirates Al Wathba
USA Bear River Bay UT02
USA Farmington Bay UT04
USA Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
USA James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
USA Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
USA Ogden Bay UT03
USA Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
USA Salton Sea
Uzbekistan Rogatoe Lake

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable non-breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded suitable breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded suitable non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Freshwater Lakes suitable breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Freshwater Lakes suitable non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable breeding
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes and Flats suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes and Flats suitable non-breeding
Altitude 0 - 4200 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-winged-stilt-himantopus-himantopus on 24/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 24/11/2024.