long pink legs; long and slightly recurved bill (Australia; 2006-06-20)


White-headed Stilt
Himantopus leucocephalus

Native Range: Australian Region

Notes: considerable taxonomic confusion surrounds this species and its relatives, with some authors considering the White-headed Stilt and Black-winged Stilt to be conspecific; in any event, the two phenotypic forms do look different, with the White-headed Stilt showing a black region on the nape that the black-winged Stilt generally lacks; no sexual dimorphism.

white head, underparts, and band across the back (Australia; 2006-06-20)
mostly black upperparts except for white back band (Australia; 2006-06-20)