Pied Stilt
© Credits: Dave Bakewell
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Himantopus leucocephalus
MALAY NAME
Kedidi Kaki-Panjang Australasia
CONSERVATION STATUS
LC
Status
Recent colonist from Australasia and Indonesia.
Identification
Ad ♂︎: Legs pink, bill black, iris dull red. Head unmarked white. Clearly defined black ‘mane’ from rear edge of crown, becoming broader toward base of neck. Mane usually stands out from the profile of the head and neck. Upper mantle and underparts unmarked white. Remainder of mantle, scapulars and wings glossy jet black. Upper tail greyish or white. Ad ♀︎: As male, but upperparts have slight brownish cast (most easily discernible when both sexes are together). Juv: Similar to juv Black-winged, but legs usually dull pink; whitish hindneck and ear coverts on most birds contrasting with brown crown result in capped appearance. Darker ear coverts and hindneck may develop later or be present on some birds from outset. Imm: Extremely similar to some plumages of Black-winged Stilt, and some may be indistinguishable. Dark grey crown, grey ear coverts and hindneck. Older birds may begin to develop black nuchal mane while retaining grey on head. Blackish upperparts. Irides grey in juvs and many imm birds, apparently becoming pink later on average than Black-winged, so eyes look blacker than most Black-winged. Bill base on many is black; if pink is present, averages duller and more restricted in extent than on imm Black-winged.
Similar Species
Similar in most respects to Black-winged Stilt. Most obvious differences in adults are a well-marked black nuchal ‘mane’ and clear white head, and deeper, puppy-like call. Juvs show a more obvious dark cap than is typical on juv Black-winged Stilt.
Typical behaviour
Foraging behaviour similar to Black-winged. Malaysian records so far have mostly been of pairs of adults. These usually keep somewhat separate from Black-winged Stilts and may behave aggressively toward them.
Vocalizations
Calls are one of the key diagnostic factors separating this taxon from Black-winged Stilt. Typical call is a relatively low-pitched, repeated yapping note, similar to that of a small dog. However, the range of calls of both Pied and Black-winged Stilt is extensive, so making sound recordings whenever a possible Pied Stilt is sighted is desirable.
https://ebird.org/species/piesti1/MY.
Range
First recorded in Nov 2015 at Tawau, Sabah, where breeding was recorded in Sep 2016. In Peninsular Malaysia, the first record was at Malim Nawar, Perak in Aug 2020, and breeding was observed for the first time in Pahang in Sep 2021. Subsequently there have been documented records from Johor, Pulau Pinang and Sarawak, usually of pairs.
Seasonality
Recorded in all months.
